The Dry Grasslands in Slovakia: History, Classification and Management

Abstract

Dry steppe-like grasslands are of the most endangered habitats in Slovakia since the natural distribution of suitable sites supporting this vegetation is limited. These sites are refuges for many rare thermophilous species of plants and invertebrates, and significantly contribute to the biodiversity of the European landscapes. The land use of dry grasslands in Slovakia experienced some dramatic changes in the last decades. The most crucial factor negatively influencing the biodiversity of grassland habitats is cessation of traditional extensive management activities, abandonment, afforestation, ploughing and building that resulted in area reduction, fragmentation, and degradation of dry grasslands. We summarise the actual results of rather intense dry grassland research in eastern Central Europe from the perspectives of (I) their establishment history, (II) variability and classification, and (III) conservation and management. Summarizing the actual archaeological and palynological knowledge we polemicize about the potential existence of original dry grassland sites in the contact zone of the Western Carpathians and the Pannonian Basin where the steppe-like vegetation occurred continually since the Holocene. An overview of phytosociological and habitat classification of the steppe-like grasslands according to results of the newest surveys and expert perspectives is given including a call for need of revision of the classification of some European natural habitat types of community interest but with an unclear delimitation. Practical management recommendations, based on the ecological requirements of dry grassland habitats, are discussed.