Restoration of priority grassland habitats in Slovakia and Romania
About the project
DiverSEED is a 7-year nature conservation project aimed at restoring priority and endangered grassland habitats in Slovakia and Romania. The project applies innovative mapping and restoration methods that offer long-term, sustainable solutions for biodiversity conservation.
Where do we work and across what area?
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- in 33 Natura 2000 sites in the two EU Member States
- targeting 10 priority grassland habitat types
- 920 hectares of grassland directly restored
- 1,200 hectares of indirectly affected areas
Most of the target habitats are listed in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive and are also included on the European Red List.
One of the project’s key elements is the collection and use of locally sourced, habitat-specific grassland seeds. Such seed mixtures are currently not available in Slovakia and Romania, which is why DiverSEED establishes a new foundation for grassland restoration practices.
Special focus in Romania
The project contributes to halting the rapid degradation of grasslands in Romania through the application of modern mapping and data collection methods. The results provide a solid basis for renewing agri-environmental schemes and implementing more effective conservation measures.
Long-term impact
The project aims to ensure that the developed methods and species-rich grassland seed mixtures remain available even after the project ends – potentially also in market-based forms – supporting grassland restoration across Europe.
Project details
Project title: Restoration of priority grassland habitats in Slovakia and Romania
Project duration: 1 July 2024 – 31 October 2031 (7 years, 4 months)
Partners: Adept Foundation Romania, Agri-Cultura-Natura Transilvania Association, Bratislavske Regionalne Ochranarskezdruzenie Slovakia, Agrostis Trávniky Slovakia, Ustredny Kontrolny a Skusobny Ustav Polnohos Slovakia, Centrum Biologie Rastalin a Biodiverzity Slovakia
Funded by: LIFE Programme of the European Union
Romania budget: €1.46 milion euro
