0000000000505927
AUTHOR
Sølvi Wehn
Semi-natural habitats in the European boreal region: Caught in the socio-ecological extinction vortex?
AbstractWe propose to consider semi-natural habitats—hotspots for biodiversity—being caught in a socio-ecological extinction vortex, similar to the phenomenon described for species threatened with extinction. These habitats are essentially socioecological systems, in which socioeconomic drivers are interlinked with ecological processes. We identify four highly interlinked and mutually reinforcing socio-economic processes, pertaining to the importance of semi-natural habitats for (i) agricultural production, (ii) policy, research and development; (iii) vocational education in the fields of agricultural sciences and (iv) public’s experiences with semi-natural habitats. Evidence from six count…
Semi-natural habitats in boreal Europe: a rise of a social-ecological research agenda
The European continent contains substantial areas of semi-natural habitats, mostly grasslands, which are among the most endangered habitats in Europe. Their continued existence depends on some form of human activity, for either production or conservation purposes, or both. We examined the share of semi-natural grasslands within the general grassland areas in boreal Europe. We reviewed research literature across the region to compile evidence on semi-natural grasslands and other semi-natural habitats, such as wooded pastures, in respect to a range of topics such as ecology, land-use change, socioeconomics, and production. We also explored drivers of the research agenda and outlined future re…
Traditional semi-natural grassland management with heterogeneous mowing times enhances flower resources for pollinators in farmed landscapes.
Semi-natural grasslands are essential habitats for pollinators. They provide high diversity of floral resources, but the amount of floral resources is strongly affected by the timing of mowing. For pollinator species that are active throughout the season, it is important that pollen and nectar are available over the entire summer at spatially relevant scales [1]. A key task for semi-natural grassland conservation is to understand the link between timing of mowing and the phenology of the plant species providing floral resources. Environmental schemes normally include recommendations for when to mow, but these are often simplifications of the traditional practices, which shaped the species r…