Pastures and meadows were once a common part of our countryside and this habitat has co-evolved with large megafauna. Megaherbivores such as European bison which used to roam the wast grasslands of Europe were later replaced by domesticated animals. All grasslands need to be grazed and without the grazers they slowly dissapear, overgrown by bushes and trees. As livestock farming has become intensified and animals are raised indoors, large areas of meadows have been turned to argicultural land. As meadows dissapear the once common species of plants and animals which rely on meadows are becoming rare and even extinct.
In order to conserve precious species of flowering plants, insect, birds and mammals such as the ground squirrel we restore extensive grazing in protected Natura 2000 areas. We graze several species of animals including goats, sheep, cows, horses and even water buffalos which help to restore the natural character of grassland habitats. In intesely agricultural areas we try to increase biodiversity by establishing new meadows on arable land.