The importance of livestock grazing at woodland-grassland interface in the conservation of rich oakwood plant communities in temperate Europe

Abstract Traditional husbandry fostered rich semi-open oakwood communities composed of forest and non-forest species. In the eastern Carpathian region, silvo-pastoralism was commonplace by mid-1900s. This study aimed to determine state preservation ecotonal character grassland-woodland interfaces in formerly pastured cultural landscapes SE-Polish foothills W-Ukrainian Ciscarpathia context land-use change. first despite long-lasting history grazing amongst mainly arable land, post-WWII collapse imposed ban on grazing, has led swift development dense undergrowth establishment impermeable ecological woodland-open habitat barrier. As a result, former silvo-pastoral oakwoods developed features Tilio-Carpinentum community although some species have not yet moved due their poor dispersibility. The much younger Ukrainian region are remnants sparsely treed grasslands, which had been ploughed mid 20th century. Their canopy structure, maintained through repetitive grass burning, contributes character, but without regular livestock-led plant “spill-over” from grassland, remain species-poor. restoration species-rich oak woods requires “unsealing” forest-grassland interface, reducing degree closure, opening that zone up extensive grazing—an important seed dispersal vector.