The role of active protection in maintaining the biodiversity of xerothermic grasslands

Xerothermic grasslands (Festuco-Brometea) are thermophilous, species-rich semi-natural habitats that depend on specific climatic, edaphic, and topographic conditions and occur mainly in southern and south-eastern Europe, while also appearing extrazonally in other parts of the continent, including Poland. These grasslands developed under historical pastoral land use and are currently threatened by secondary succession, abandonment of grazing and mowing, afforestation, urbanization, agricultural intensification, and the spread of invasive and expansive species, all of which contribute to the decline of native xerothermic biodiversity.

The aim of this study was to present selected active conservation measures that support the maintenance of biodiversity in xerothermic grasslands, with particular emphasis on preserving species-rich plant communities and protecting rare, threatened, and habitat-specialist taxa. The review was prepared in accordance with PRISMA 2020 reporting principles for systematic reviews. A systematic literature search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and Google Scholar using predefined search terms related to xerothermic grasslands, active conservation, and biodiversity. Only English-language publications published from 2010 onward were considered. In total, 64 records were identified and screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 22 meta-analyses and highly relevant study-based sources were used to synthesize the evidence.

The findings indicate that active conservation is essential for safeguarding the biodiversity of xerothermic grasslands. Extensive grazing, mowing, removal of woody encroachment, and invasive alien species control help maintain open habitat structure, reduce competitive exclusion, and preserve environmental conditions required by many specialized plants and invertebrates. These measures are particularly important for sustaining species richness, limiting biodiversity loss, and supporting the long-term persistence of rare and endangered grassland taxa. Effective conservation requires integrated, long-term management supported by appropriate socio-economic conditions, especially extensive farming systems.