Question 1: Which terms are used in your country in connection with an ecological improvement respectively recreation of habitats (Semi-natural grassland as a source of bio-diversity improvement) and how they are understood?

Question 2: Are there other terms used in this context?

Question 2: Other terms used in this context PL: Environmental restitution, reintroduction, metaplantation, renovation, conservation D, A: seeds of regional origin, extensivierung (reduction of intensity), Wildpflanzensaatgut (wild flower seeds), Ökotypensaatgut (seeds of ecotypes), Regiosaatgut (regional seed), regionale Herkünfte (seeds of regional origin) I: plant rehabilitation, revitalisation, reforming of natural habitat CZ, SK: grassing, grass downing

PL: Environmental restitution, reintroduction, metaplantation, renovation, conservation

D, A: seeds of regional origin, extensivierung (reduction of intensity), Wildpflanzensaatgut (wild flower seeds), Ökotypensaatgut (seeds of ecotypes), Regiosaatgut (regional seed), regionale Herkünfte (seeds of regional origin)

I: plant rehabilitation, revitalisation, reforming of natural habitat

CZ, SK: grassing, grass downing

All respondents answered that semi-natural grasslands deserve to be protected because of the following reasons: high ecological and landscape value, potential donor sites, genetic resource, source of variability also for breeding programmes, hunting restocking areas . Some types are actually protected according to: Nature Conservation Act EU Habitat Directive, Natura 2000 Federal Nature Conservation Law Agro-environmental programmes Nongovernmental organizations Question 3: Do semi-natural grasslands deserve to be protected in your country/region/province and are they seen as a resource (donor site - target site, high ecological value, high landscape value…)?

All respondents answered that semi-natural grasslands deserve to be protected because of the following reasons:

high ecological and landscape value, potential donor sites, genetic resource, source of variability also for breeding programmes, hunting restocking areas .

Some types are actually protected according to:

Nature Conservation Act

EU Habitat Directive, Natura 2000

Federal Nature Conservation Law

Agro-environmental programmes

Nongovernmental organizations

Ministries for agriculture and environment Agricultural chambers and agencies resp. agricultural advisory centres National parks offices National and regional NGOs Nature protection offices and funds Question 4: What official authorities and administrative bodies are responsible for implementation and realisation of corresponding projects (ecological improvement or recreation of high nature value grassland) in your country/region/province?

Ministries for agriculture and environment

Agricultural chambers and agencies resp. agricultural advisory centres

National parks offices

National and regional NGOs

Nature protection offices and funds

Authorities are in general not very interested Scientists are aware of high nature value and proclaim traditional management and are very interested in the subject, many running projects Farmers are generally interested but most times lack of information about what is possible Farmers have increased interest via agro-environmental programs, financial support and increasing information about the value of HNVG Question 5: Regarding the use of semi-natural high nature value grassland: what is the general point of view or the interest of authorities, scientists, users?

Authorities are in general not very interested

Scientists are aware of high nature value and proclaim traditional management and are very interested in the subject, many running projects

Farmers are generally interested but most times lack of information about what is possible

Farmers have increased interest via agro-environmental programs, financial support and increasing information about the value of HNVG

PL: Agri-Environmental Programmes, National Initiatives, leaflets, brochures D, A: Guideline for site specific restoration, Guideline for restoration Upper Austria, REWISA (in progress), VWW-Regiosaaten (Certified Wild Flower Seeds), National and regional agricultural programmes, handbooks I: Guidelines for management of low fertilized and wet meadows (BZ) CZ, SK: Grasslands of the White CarpathiansDAPHNE-national grassland inventory Question 6: Regarding to this topic: are there any national or regional ongoing or existing activities, guidelines, handbooks or stipulations in your country/region/province?

PL: Agri-Environmental Programmes, National Initiatives, leaflets, brochures

D, A: Guideline for site specific restoration, Guideline for restoration Upper Austria, REWISA (in progress), VWW-Regiosaaten (Certified Wild Flower Seeds), National and regional agricultural programmes, handbooks

I: Guidelines for management of low fertilized and wet meadows (BZ)

CZ, SK: Grasslands of the White CarpathiansDAPHNE-national grassland inventory

PL: National Parks, Landscape Parks, National Agriculture Advisory Centres, Regional offices of Nature Protection, Universities D, A: Administration of nature conservation, landscape architects/engineers, D VL Verband für Landschaftspflege, authorities (e.g. road administration, railway authorities, authorities for hydraulic engineering …), Conservation NGOs, seed supplier I: Universities, public authorities. No institutions or companies interested CZ, SK: non governmental institution Daphne CR, Bile Kaparty Question 7: Do you know institutions or companies which are interested in this topic and would they need support? Specify their names

PL: National Parks, Landscape Parks, National Agriculture Advisory Centres, Regional offices of Nature Protection, Universities

D, A: Administration of nature conservation, landscape architects/engineers, D VL Verband für Landschaftspflege, authorities (e.g. road administration, railway authorities, authorities for hydraulic engineering …), Conservation NGOs, seed supplier

I: Universities, public authorities. No institutions or companies interested

CZ, SK: non governmental institution Daphne CR, Bile Kaparty

Question 8: Are there already running or completed projects dealing with the use of diaspores harvested from semi-natural grassland?

PL: Institution of Natural Protection, Inst. For Land Reclamation and Grassland Farming, University Crakow D, A: D VL Verband für Landschaftspflege, Uni Gießen, RegioSaatGut, www. stromtalwiesen, ALPEROS, SURE etc. I: University, Provincial departments (nature and landscape, forest, hydraulic works). State forest body (forest seeds) CZ, SK: Research institute, Academy of sciences, National Park Administration, Nature Conservation Association Question 8: Are there already running or completed projects dealing with the use of diaspores harvested from semi-natural grassland?

PL: Institution of Natural Protection, Inst. For Land Reclamation and Grassland Farming, University Crakow

D, A: D VL Verband für Landschaftspflege, Uni Gießen, RegioSaatGut, www. stromtalwiesen, ALPEROS, SURE etc.

I: University, Provincial departments (nature and landscape, forest, hydraulic works). State forest body (forest seeds)

CZ, SK: Research institute, Academy of sciences, National Park Administration, Nature Conservation Association

Question 9: Do you know what kind of techniques are used for the transfer of diaspores from donor sites?

To clone (grasses vegetative propagation) Transfer of overburden with seed bank and vegetative propagules Topsoil transfer Habitat/turf transplantation Different combined methods (seed sward combination) Raking (D, ?) Question 9: Other techniques used for the transfer of diaspores from donor sites?

To clone (grasses vegetative propagation)

Transfer of overburden with seed bank and vegetative propagules

Topsoil transfer

Habitat/turf transplantation

Different combined methods (seed sward combination)

Raking (D, ?)

Hand collection as a supporting method for collection of rare species Very good results with fresh cutting and hay mulching (question about the difference – 1 day between cutting and spreading?) Very good results with threshing Good results with seed stripping Question 10: Do you have positive experience with the different techniques listed?

Hand collection as a supporting method for collection of rare species

Very good results with fresh cutting and hay mulching (question about the difference – 1 day between cutting and spreading?)

Very good results with threshing

Good results with seed stripping

Hand collection is very time consuming Threshing: problematically due to old machinery and unfavourable weather conditions Transfer of overburden/turves is very expensive Production and planting of plants/clones is very expensive Question 10: Do you have negative experience with the different techniques listed?

Hand collection is very time consuming

Threshing: problematically due to old machinery and unfavourable weather conditions

Transfer of overburden/turves is very expensive

Production and planting of plants/clones is very expensive

Question 11: Are there assessments on the influence of diaspore harvest (depending on technique or frequency) on the ecological status or value of donor sites?

PL: unidentified D, A: up to now no negative influence assessed but up to now no specifically survey done I: no negative effects assessed CZ, SK: Jongepierova, Pokova (eds.) (2006); DAPHNE study from Morava river Question 11: assessments on the influence of diaspore harvest on the ecological status or value of donor sites:

PL: unidentified

D, A: up to now no negative influence assessed but up to now no specifically survey done

I: no negative effects assessed

CZ, SK: Jongepierova, Pokova (eds.) (2006); DAPHNE study from Morava river

Question 12: What techniques are used for production of seeds or plant material?

PL: Small scale seed propagation, horticultural reproduction D, A: Seeds, threshing, fresh cutting, hay mulching I: seed propagation CZ, SK: Seeds, small scale seed propagation of wild ecotypes Question 12: Main techniques used for production of seeds or plant material

PL: Small scale seed propagation, horticultural reproduction

D, A: Seeds, threshing, fresh cutting, hay mulching

I: seed propagation

CZ, SK: Seeds, small scale seed propagation of wild ecotypes

Question 13: Are there already existing certifications of plant material or of production flows in your country/region/province (e.g. origin of seeds, quality of threshings, seed multiplication)?

Question 13: already existing certifications of plant material or of production flows PL: none D, A: VWW Regiosaaten (certificate for seed quality and origin), Certification of wild seeds in Upper Austria, Certification of local bosk (Gehölze) in Lower Austria I: none CZ, SK: Regional mixture of White Carpathians

PL: none

D, A: VWW Regiosaaten (certificate for seed quality and origin), Certification of wild seeds in Upper Austria, Certification of local bosk (Gehölze) in Lower Austria

I: none

CZ, SK: Regional mixture of White Carpathians

Question 14: What techniques are used for the establishment of semi-natural grassland or HNVF?

Question 14: Other techniques used for establishment Cloning of grasses Horticultural production of plants Sod rolls

Cloning of grasses

Horticultural production of plants

Sod rolls

Question 15: What are the pros and cons of the most important used methods? Dry seeding: cheap, simple, well known but most times unexplained origin of seeds, seed quality often a problem Application of fresh cutting, hand collection, threshing, hay mulch seeding: very specific local populations can be successfully transferred. Fresh cutting: invertebrates can be transferred too, erosion protection Natural succession: cheap, without human intervention but slow, not suitable for large scale projects, needs diaspores from donor site nearby

Dry seeding: cheap, simple, well known but most times unexplained origin of seeds, seed quality often a problem

Application of fresh cutting, hand collection, threshing, hay mulch seeding: very specific local populations can be successfully transferred.

Fresh cutting: invertebrates can be transferred too, erosion protection

Natural succession: cheap, without human intervention but slow, not suitable for large scale projects, needs diaspores from donor site nearby

PL: Farmer‘s old tradition, generally low ecological concience, lack of money for projects D, A: Lack of interest of authorities and stakeholders. Information deficits. High costs and efforts. Lack of donor sites. Differing interests of breeding companies. Seed law versus Nature Protection law. Availability of acceptor sites. I: Lack of local seeds, cultural ignorance and low sensibility to the subject matter, more concentration should be given to communication of results. Most methods are too difficult to use, commercial seeds are a good compromise (Alto Adige). Methods are easy, costs are too high in comparison to commercial seeds CZ, SK: overcoming of agricultural groovy methods, certificated regional mixtures do not exist (SK) Question 16: What are the difficulties when trying to implement these methods in your country/region/province?

PL: Farmer‘s old tradition, generally low ecological concience, lack of money for projects

D, A: Lack of interest of authorities and stakeholders. Information deficits. High costs and efforts. Lack of donor sites. Differing interests of breeding companies. Seed law versus Nature Protection law. Availability of acceptor sites.

I: Lack of local seeds, cultural ignorance and low sensibility to the subject matter, more concentration should be given to communication of results. Most methods are too difficult to use, commercial seeds are a good compromise (Alto Adige). Methods are easy, costs are too high in comparison to commercial seeds

CZ, SK: overcoming of agricultural groovy methods, certificated regional mixtures do not exist (SK)

Wide range of answers to the questionnaires. Criticism of being much too general as well as much too particular Semi-natural grassland is seen as a very important and valuable resource The awareness of important stakeholders concerned (authorities, construction companies, engineers, farmers) is surprisingly low. Raising the public awareness is very important Experience about techniques of collection and transfer of diaspores is very different between countries Certificates of origin for regional seed- and plat material are broadly demanded SUMMARY

Wide range of answers to the questionnaires. Criticism of being much too general as well as much too particular

Semi-natural grassland is seen as a very important and valuable resource

The awareness of important stakeholders concerned (authorities, construction companies, engineers, farmers) is surprisingly low. Raising the public awareness is very important

Experience about techniques of collection and transfer of diaspores is very different between countries

Certificates of origin for regional seed- and plat material are broadly demanded