Wood-pastures of Europe: Geographic coverage, social-ecological values, conservation management, and policy implications

摘要: Abstract Wood-pastures are archetypes of High Nature Value Farmlands in Europe and hold exceptional ecological, social, cultural values. Yet, wood-pastures have been through a sharp decline all over Europe, mainly due to processes agricultural intensification abandonment. Recently, found increasing attention from conservation science policy across Europe. In this paper we (i) perform the first pan-European assessment wood-pastures, considering individual countries biogeographic regions, (ii) present ecological social–cultural values wide diversity wood-pasture systems (iii) outline management challenges around (iv) provide insights for agenda targeting We estimate that cover an area approximately 203,000 km 2 European Union (EU). They distributed biogeographical but more abundantly Mediterranean Eastern countries. Substantial revealed terms landscape level biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, genetic resources. Social–cultural related aesthetic values, heritage, rich traditional knowledge. discuss anthropogenic character requiring multifunctional land management, which is major challenge. Despite societal appreciation their integration into effective policies has proved be complicated, because institutional structures traditionally organized within mono-functional sectors. offer suggestions as how these shortcomings might overcome Common Agricultural Policy, including Rural Development policy, Habitats Directive EU. conclude research should guided by holistic vision integrates information about ecology, arrangements.