Increasing the potential of prescribed burning for the biodiversity conservation of European grasslands

Prescribed burning (PB), the planned and controlled application of fire, is a well-established tool for biodiversity conservation in a plethora of habitats globally. In European grasslands that are threatened hotspots of biodiversity, PB has the potential to address challenges related to several threats such as abandonment, climate change, or invasive species. However, its potential is seldom realized both in experimental and real-world conditions. To increase the potential of PB in the management of European grasslands, we suggest adapting the fire regime concept in future studies and to determine optimal PB regimes based on experimental approaches, paleo-data, and the disappearing traditional ecological knowledge. For the evidence-based evaluation of PB applicability, a decision support framework is suggested.

Automated summary

Prescribed burning is a well-established tool for biodiversity conservation globally, with potential to address challenges in European grasslands, but its potential is often unrealized in both experimental and real-world conditions.