What are successful concepts for restoring species-rich grasslands in Germany? A multi-regional assessment of socio-ecological systems and pilot implementation (Grassworks)
Grassworks uses an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach to investigate the impact that restoring grassland areas can have and explores the question of how meadows and pastures can be managed in such a way that ecologically valuable ecosystems are created and preserved, while at the same time ensuring that farmers are fairly remunerated for the services that these areas provide for the common good. In doing so, we consider ecological, socio-ecological, economic, and governance aspects.
Project priorities
In Grassworks, researchers from the fields of ecology, sustainability sciences, and economics, together with the Thünen Institute as an interface between science and politics and the German Association for Landscape Conservation, want to use a transdisciplinary research approach to investigate which factors are crucial for the successful renaturation of grassland. In three regions of Germany (north, center, south), 30 renaturation projects that have already been implemented will be subjected to a post-hoc analysis in order to quantify the influence of ecological, socio-ecological, and socio-economic conditions on the success of renaturation and to identify leverage points for greater biodiversity and multifunctionality. Grassworks will thus enable a unique comprehensive analysis of the direct and indirect drivers of the renaturation success of grassland ecosystems.
Complementing this, measures will be planned in a participatory manner with relevant stakeholders in three real-world laboratories (north, center, south) and implemented in selected municipalities. Leveraging points will also be identified jointly that can lead to a greater appreciation of biodiversity, ESF, and ESG and improved knowledge of successful methods of grassland renaturation. An analysis of the economic and political aspects of grassland renaturation will identify strengths and weaknesses and options for action to improve governance at different scales (including AUKM in the CAP and other policies).
Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary modeling is used to synthesize the diverse results and feed them into an innovative online information and forecasting tool for grassland renaturation. The initiation of a research-based transformation process in the real-world laboratories should lead to continuity and be transferable to other regions. Our innovative consulting tools will significantly improve the planning, technical, and ecological quality of implementation. Priorities will outline social decision-making processes at suitable locations, taking into account the renaturation goal (including long-term carbon storage, increasing resilience to extreme weather events, promoting insects, producing high-quality feed and food, cultural ecosystem services).
Grassworks pursues a socio-ecological systems approach that explicitly captures the dynamics of biodiversity appreciation, improves governance structures, develops scenarios for future policy instruments and nature conservation strategies, and thus contributes significantly to the protection of biodiversity in grasslands.
Project region
three model regions in northern, central, and southern Germany
Further project details
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The varying degrees of success achieved by renaturation projects make it possible to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of different approaches to renaturation—e.g., the choice of renaturation method—against the backdrop of different framework conditions.
The success of renaturation is viewed from several angles: from an ecological, socio-ecological, and economic perspective. The renaturation areas were therefore selected to cover as wide a range as possible.
In 2022 and 2023, the areas were assessed both ecologically (soil, vegetation, butterflies & wild bees, landscape connectivity and complexity), socio-ecological and socio-economic (integration of renaturation measures into agricultural businesses, management and administrative structures) in order to enable a holistic assessment of the success of renaturation.Reference areas were also used in the assessment of success. On the one hand, species-rich, non-restored grassland sites were used as positive references; on the other hand, grasslands degraded by excessive land use or neglected maintenance were used as negative references.
You can find more detailed insights into ecological field research here.
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Real-world laboratories are experimental spaces at the interface between science and society, where scientists collaborate with local stakeholders, learn from each other, and test ideas. They therefore offer great potential for initiating transformative processes and generating relevant knowledge.
In the second work package of Grassworks, such transformation processes are to be initiated in three real-world laboratories. Among other things, the level of knowledge on the topic of species-rich grassland and its restoration was compared, as were the values of relevant stakeholder groups in relation to grassland renaturation, both before and after the project. In addition, renaturation measures were evaluated, planned, and implemented together with the local population, and demonstration areas for the multifunctionality of grassland areas were created to serve as a means of knowledge transfer.
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences initiated and actively supervised the transformation process in the Reallabor Mitte, i.e., in Hainrode and the southern Harz region. Among other things, locations for species-rich wildflower meadows were selected together with local residents and created in September 2023—you can read a detailed report here. In 2024, a citizen science or participatory campaign was carried out, enabling the citizens of Hainrode and the South Harz region to create, maintain, and observe wildflower meadows in their own gardens. To this end, the Grassworks team gave away seed packets containing a certified wild plant mixture specially compiled for the region and produced a brochure containing profiles of the plant species in this Hainrode mixture, tips on planting and maintaining wildflower meadows, and a recording sheet (more information can be found here).
The long-term fertilization and cultivation trial in Hayn is a demonstration area for the Model Region Center – you can read the initial results in the publication released in December 2023.
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In order for grassland restoration to be successful in the long term, the application of and knowledge about suitable renaturation methods is of central importance.
Knowledge about grassland renaturation – involving practitioners and researchers – is collected, bundled, made accessible, and disseminated in Work Package 3 in order to stimulate mutual learning and promote integrated decision-making processes.
As part of Grassworks, the Deutsche Verband für Landschaftspflege (DVL), one of our project partners, has developed a practical film series on the topic of grassland renaturation, which we highly recommend!
Part 1: Creating species-rich meadows and pastures – motivation and methods in grassland
Part 2: Creating species-rich meadows and pastures – solutions for difficult terrain
Part 3: Creating species-rich meadows and pastures – Machines for grassland restoration
Part 4: Creating species-rich meadows and pastures – From meadow to sale – a business model -
The planning and implementation of renaturation measures in grassland are embedded in economic and legal frameworks that are relevant for financing. Led by the University of Greifswald, this work package will examine the political and economic aspects of grassland renaturation and identify existing deficits. The aim is to identify and highlight opportunities for future improvements at various levels.
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In order to make predictions about the success of renaturation and provide recommendations for the renaturation of grassland, this part of the project brings together and links the results of work packages 1–4. To this end, interdisciplinary and data-driven modeling is used to determine the significance of the various relevant factors influencing the success of renaturation. On the other hand, transdisciplinary participatory modeling of renaturation success with practice partners is used to develop causal models that should enable an even better understanding of the interactions between the various factors.
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The integration of knowledge is of central importance for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary projects. Therefore, project management, including coordination and communication with research and practice partners, is central to this part of the project. In addition, Grassworks scientists will present the results obtained at conferences, meetings, and workshops and engage in dialogue with European stakeholders and research groups in order to ensure the sustainability of the project.
We report regularly on the activities of the Grassworks team on our project website and on the social media channels of Offenlandinfo.
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Developing sustainable grassland ecosystems: thinking about agriculture, nature conservation, and society together
Date: January 21, 2025, 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Representation of the State of Lower Saxony to the Federal Government, In den Ministergärten 10, 10117 Berlin
During this event, we presented the most important results of our project and discussed our findings with regard to the EU Nature Restoration Law. Other presentations dealt with the implementation of renaturation measures in the field. Dr. Tanja Busse, an experienced journalist in the field of biodiversity and land use, skillfully moderated the day and the exciting panel discussion with Prof. Sabine Tischew from Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Dr. Julian Taffner from the FEdA, Steffen Pingen from the German Farmers’ Association, and Dr. Jürgen Metzner, managing director of the German Association for Landscape Conservation (DVL). (DVL).
Our guest speakers Prof. Josef Settele from the Environmental Research Center (UFZ), Prof. Eckhard Jedicke from Geisenheim University, and Dr. Simone Schneider (SICONA Luxembourg) supplemented our findings from Grassworks and supported them with practical examples, while Simon Keelan from the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation gave a presentation on the EU Restoration Regulation.
The event enabled us to bring together various stakeholders from the fields of science, politics, practice, and society, and provided a platform for an open exchange of ideas. Together, we examined and discussed current developments, challenges, and practical solutions for preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services in grassland ecosystems. However, everyone agreed on one thing: grassland has potential, and we should work together to harness it!
You can gain detailed insight in our blog post on the project website: https://grassworksprojekt.de/blog/gruenland-kann-was/
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Publikationen
Temperton, V.M., Pătru‐Dușe, I.A., Twerski, A., Laeseke, P., Neudert, R., Cebrián‐Piqueras, M.A., Romero, M.P., Bauer, M., Beckmann, V., Fischer, J., Gray, K., Härdtle, W., Kollmann, J., Kuhn, L., Laschke, C.J., Loos, J., Lutz, L., May, F., Meyer, M., Martin‐Lopez, B., Riechers, M., Ptacek, M., Seifert, D., Schmidt, A., Sturm, L., Thiele, J., Tischew, S., Unseld, L., Venus, T., Wiesmeier, M., Kirmer, A., 2025. Proposing a social‐ecological framework for successful grassland restoration in Germany—an overview and insights from the Grassworks project. Restoration Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70109
Dullau, S., Tischew, S., Schmidt, A. (2024) Effekte verschiedener Düngeintensitäten auf Artenvielfalt und Ertrag im mesophilen Grünland unter Niederschlagsdefizit – erste Erkenntnisse des Hayn-Grünlandexperiments. DVL-Rundbrief Sommer 2024: 50-54. PDF
Dullau, S., Kirmer, A., Tischew, S., Holz, F., Meyer, M.H., Schmidt, A. (2023) Effects of fertilizer levels and drought conditions on species assembly and biomass production in the restoration of a mesic temperate grassland on ex-arable land. Global Ecology and Conservation 48, e02730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02730 (open access)
Workshops
GRASSWORKS – Workshop zur Wiederherstellung artenreichen Grünlands an der Hochschule Anhalt in Bernburg (01.-02.06.2023) (PDF Exkursionsführer)
Vorträge
Twerski, A., May, F., Temperton, V., Kirmer, A., Tischew, S., Kollmann, J., Schmidt, A. & the Grassworks consortium (2025): Exploring the multifunctionality of restored grasslands. 54th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Würzburg, Germany.
Gray, K. (2024) Bilder als Sprachrohr: Eine Photovoice Studie aus dem Südharz. IALE-D Jahrestagung 2024. Bernburg, Deutschland
Schmidt, A., Sturm, L., Kirmer, A. (2024) Butterfly assemblages in restored grasslands: The role of restoration method, local factors and landscape context. 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration. Tartu, Estland.
Twerski, A., Schmidt, A., May, F., Temperton, V., Kirmer, A., Kollmann, J. & the Grassworks consortium (2024) Understanding how restoration intensity controls grassland recovery. 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration. Tartu, Estland.
Laschke, C. J., Twerski, A., Temperton, V. & the Grassworks consortium (2024) What works best in grassland restoration? Plant diversity on restored grasslands across Germany. 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration. Tartu, Estland.
Gray, K., Masterson, V. (2024) Photovoice. Beitrag zum Symposium “Arts-based methods that harness subjective perspectives on social-ecological diversity: Moving from conflict to empathy (Jiménez Aceituno, A., Masterson, V., Enqvist, J.)”. PECS-3: Pathways to Sustainability. Montreal, Kanada
Sturm, L., Schmidt, A., Temperton, V., Kirmer, A. (2024) Wie erfolgreich ist Grünlandrenaturierung in Deutschland? Erkenntnisse aus dem Grassworks-Projekt. 9. Netzwerktreffen Renaturierung in Olm, Luxemburg.
Twerski, A., Sturm, L. & das Grassworks-Konsortium (2024) Was sind erfolgreiche Konzepte zur Wiederherstellung artenreichen Grünlandes in Deutschland? Eine multiregionale Bewertung sozial-ökologischer Systeme und pilothafte Umsetzung. FEdA Statuskonferenz, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland.
Gray, K., Neudert, R. (2023) The who and how of grassland restoration: A conceptual note and transdisciplinary examples from the Grassworks Project. Making people part of ecosystem restoration in Europe. Bonn, Deutschland
Twerski, A., Temperton, V. & das Grassworks-Konsortium (2023) Grassworks: Was sind erfolgreiche Konzepte zur Wiederherstellung artenreichen Grünlandes in Deutschland? Blühwiesenforum, Lüneburg, Deutschland.
Gray, K., Kuhn, L. (2022) Wiederherstellung der Mensch-Natur Beziehung durch Grünlandrenaturierung: Reallabore als Echt-Zeit-Experiment im Grassworks Projekt. Nachhaltig wirken – Reallabore in der Transformation. Karlsruhe, Deutschland
Poster
Gray, K. (2025): Vielfältige Landschaften für Grünlandrenaturierung: Eine Photovoice-Studie aus dem Südharz. Grassworks Abschlussveranstaltung in Berlin, Deutschland
Sturm, L., Twerski, A., Kirmer, A., Temperton, V. (2024) Grünlandrenaturierung in Deutschland. FEdA Statuskonferenz, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland.
Leitfäden
Deutscher Verband für Landschaftspflege e. V. (2025) Wiesen und Weiden artenreich anlegen – Praxisleitfaden für eine erfolgreiche Grünlandrenaturierung, Nr. 32 der DVL-Schriftenreihe „Landschaft als Lebensraum“ (PDF)