Contribution of military training areas for the conservation of calcareous grasslands

Abstract

Calcareous grasslands are habitats of high conservation value. These rich habitats are declining notably due to agriculture and habitat fragmentation. In France, calcareous grasslands may be found on Military Training Areas (MTA), which protect them from intensive agriculture and urban development. By analysing their floristic structure and composition, the aim of this publication is to determine the conservation status of grassland on two French MTAs, following a gradient of intensity of military use called “militarisation gradient” in the rest of the publication. Vegetation characteristics appeared different according to the level of military activities. The level of military activity increases the average height of vegetation and the proportion of bare ground as well as the heterogeneity of the environment. Also, military activities and their related management, favour rich and diversified grasslands in a good conservation status, even if it could be improved by some adapted management methods. They also allow the creation of a mosaic of habitats within the grasslands with the presence of overgrown areas. Thus, MTAs appeared to present good potential for preserving of remaining calcareous grassland.