Maintain species-rich, semi-natural grassland

Overall effectiveness category Likely to be beneficial
Number of studies: 2
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

41%
Certainty

44%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Low-intensity management of grasslands has produced some of the most species-rich habitats in Europe and there are several agri-environment schemes designed to maintain these grassland. Such schemes may include several different interventions, attempting to replicate traditional management.

Study locations

Key messages

A before-and-after study from the UK found five species of conservation concern increased after the implementation of management designed to maintain unimproved grasslands.
A replicated study from Switzerland found that wetland birds appeared to preferentially choose managed hay meadows; birds of open farmland avoided it.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A before and after trial in England (Defra 2002) concluded that management prescriptions in the Exmoor Environmentally Sensitive Area are maintaining the condition of unimproved grassland, based on trends in bird populations in parts of the Environmentally Sensitive Areas under long term management agreements. The study found that five red/amber-listed species of conservation concern (linnet Carduelis cannabina, bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula, grey partridge Perdix perdix, house sparrow Passer domesticus and garden warbler Sylvia borin) appeared to be increasing in density within the Cotswolds Environmentally Sensitive Areas while declining nationally, suggesting that they benefit from some aspect of Environmentally Sensitive Areas management. In each Environmentally Sensitive Areas, breeding birds were surveyed in May-August 2002, and results were compared with baseline survey information from 1992/3 (Exmoor) and 1997 (Cotswolds). In the Cotswolds Environmentally Sensitive Area, birds were surveyed in 96 randomly-selected 1 km squares, while the majority (153km²) of the Exmoor Environmentally Sensitive Area was surveyed.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
DEFRA . (2002) Breeding bird survey of the Cotswold Hills ESA and Exmoor ESA. DEFRA (RSPB) report, project ref. MA01006.
In a replicated site comparison study, Herzog et al. (2005) found that on average 86% of litter meadows in Ecological Compensation Areas on the Swiss plateau were of ‘good ecological quality’ (based on national guidelines for Ecological Compensation Areas target vegetation), compared to only 20% of hay meadows. While wetland birds appeared to benefit from litter meadow Ecological Compensation Areas, with significantly more territories (52) than expected (31) in these areas, birds of open cultivated land had fewer territories (68) than expected (151) on hay meadow Ecological Compensation Areas. For hay meadow Ecological Compensation Areas, ecological quality was significantly lower in the more intensively farmed ‘lowland’ zone of the Swiss plateau, compared to ‘pre-alpine hills’ zone. Territories of breeding birds were mapped in 23 study areas, based on 3 visits between mid-April and mid-June. This study is also discussed in ‘Maintain traditional orchards’ and ‘Manage hedges to benefit wildlife (includes no spray, gap-filling and laying)’.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Herzog F., Dreier S. & Hofer G. (2005) Effect of ecological compensation areas on floristic and breeding bird diversity in Swiss agricultural landscapes. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 108, 189-204.

Please cite as:

Williams, D.R., Child, M.F., Dicks, L.V., Ockendon, N., Pople, R.G., Showler, D.A., Walsh, J.C., zu Ermgassen, E.K.H.J. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Bird Conservation. Pages 137-281 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bird Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Use traditional breeds of livestock Action Link	Unlikely to be beneficial	1	Synopsis Link
Delay haying/mowing Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	5	Synopsis Link
Maintain traditional water meadows Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	4	Synopsis Link