Extensive grazing: essential for one in three of Europe's protected habitats

The decline of extensive grazing in Europe

The number of extensive and mixed-livestock farms has declined by more than 70% between 2010 and 2020, according to analysis by the European Commission.

Moreover, a large proportion of the intensive livestock systems are concentrated in the EU's most productive areas, whereas extensive grazing-based systems are mostly found in less productive, more remote regions.

The decline of extensive livestock systems, and the potential geographic mismatch between livestock and habitats location, increases the risk of abandonment of habitat types that depend on grazing or mowing to survive.

Grazing helps protect ecosystems and species

Grazing by domestic livestock (such as cattle, sheep, goats and horses) has played an important role, traditionally, in shaping European ecosystems and reducing the risk of wildfires. Domestic livestock replaced the role once played by large wild grazers, such as aurochs, bison or wild horses.

Grazing animals help create structurally diverse vegetation, with a mix of dense and open forest types, and shrub- and grass-dominated areas. Grazing has fostered and continues to maintain grasslands and their associated wildflowers. Large grazers create open ground by trampling as well as digging for food, and their dung is a key food source for many insects and birds.

Grassland habitats provide a key example of the need for extensive grazing (or mowing) in Europe to help conserve many threatened species. For example, 92% of the protected butterfly species included in EU law depend on extensively managed grasslands. Furthermore, meadow birds that are dependent on permanent grassland habitats make up a high proportion of all protected birds. European semi-natural habitats support a large proportion of the continent's endemic species - 18.1% of Europe's endemic vascular plants are found in grassland ecosystems and 15.5% in heaths and shrub habitats.

Policy support for the livestock strategy

The European Commission is currently developing a livestock strategy that will foster the competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of the EU livestock sector and agri-food chain. The briefing published today by the EEA shows how a well planned grazing strategy could benefit European ecosystems and wild species as well.

At the same time, the briefing supports the implementation of the EU's biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the Nature Restoration Regulation.