LIFE DiverSEED – Restoration of priority grassland habitats in Slovakia and Romania

Project Objectives

DiverSEED is a 7-year project focused on the restoration of priority grassland habitats shared between Slovakia and Romania. By introducing innovative mapping and restoration techniques, the project aims to create a long-lasting impact well beyond its duration.

Targeting 10 key habitats – 9 Priority Habitats listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive and 1 Endangered habitat from the European Habitats Red List – the project will be implemented across 33 Sites of Community Importance (SCIs), including 30 in Slovakia and 3 in Romania. Direct restoration efforts will cover at least 920 hectares of priority grasslands, with an additional 1,200 hectares benefiting indirectly through replication.

In addition to direct restoration, DIVERSEED will significantly advance future grassland recovery by pioneering sustainable seed harvesting from priority habitats and establishing protocols for seed collection and reseeding in protected areas. With no local seed mixtures currently available in Slovakia or Romania, this initiative will fill a critical gap in the growing demand for ecological restoration. The project will be developed in close collaboration with farmers, farmer associations, environmental agencies, and national authorities, all of whom have expressed strong interest.

Restoration efforts will incorporate proven methods such as grazing, mowing, and the removal of invasive species. At the same time, the introduction of an innovative seeding approach will help restore species composition, benefiting not only plant diversity but also pollinators, whose populations will be closely monitored to assess project impact.

A key component of the project is addressing the critical yet underestimated decline of grasslands in Romania, largely due to limited mapping capacity. By deploying state-of-the-art mapping techniques, DiverSEED will provide a more accurate assessment of the situation and support improvements to agri-environment schemes, which are currently failing to halt grassland declines.

Engagement with communities will be an important part of the project, with volunteer activities, educational programs for schools, and outreach initiatives for the general public. Policy work with authorities and comprehensive farmer training will ensure that project outcomes translate into long-term change.

Finally, the seed mixtures developed through the project will be designed for market uptake, ensuring further replication and sustainability beyond its lifetime.

OVERALL PROJECT OBJECTIVES:

• Developing, demonstrating, and promoting the use of best practices in grassland conservation, combining traditional habitat management with innovative methods to restore species composition and enhance ecosystem resilience.
• Strengthening governance and collaboration in nature conservation by building the capacity of public and private stakeholders, particularly farmers, and actively involving them in habitat restoration efforts. This includes fostering knowledge exchange, promoting sustainable land management practices, and increasing public awareness through education and outreach.
• Expanding the large-scale adoption of effective restoration approaches by replicating successful methods in new locations, integrating biodiversity-friendly practices into agricultural and land management policies, and encouraging investment in sustainable restoration initiatives. By supporting the use of locally adapted seed mixtures and other ecological solutions, the project ensures long-term benefits for both nature and communities.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

• Carry out necessary restoration management of target priority grassland habitats on at least total 920 hectares in 33 SCIs in 2 EU member states;
• Small-scale habitats patches restored on 85 localities;
• 2500 individuals of 10 most endangered flagship species of habitats will be planted.
• Prepare 2 seed mixtures of species-rich composition for restoration purposes created in Slovakia.
• Seeds collection in Romania from target grassland habitats to create habitat-specific seed mixtures, for restoration use.
• Purchase at least 10 hectares, lease at least 10 hectares of land, pay compensations to at least 108 hectares of land.
• Acquire relevant scientific data on target habitats in Romania.
• Ensure long-term management of habitats and sustainable use of their services in cooperation with local stakeholders.
• Increase the awareness of stakeholders and public on target habitats, conservation measures and their importance by number of dissemination activities.
• Spread the knowledge, know-how of the project in different localities, regions and EU states which share the target habitats, by participating in events, conferences and networking visits.
• Assess habitat loss and effectiveness of current agri-environment schemes, and redesign agri-environmental schemes in Romania.
• Prepare and authorize set of policies to use seed mixtures for restoration of grasslands in Slovakia and in Romania.
• Replicate at least 15 times the best practices in habitat restoration with stakeholders in localities not targeted by the project.
• Prepare the market uptake of seeds mixtures.

ROMANIA:

In Romania the project will be implemented in 3 SCIs:

• ROSCI0227 Sighisoara-Tarnava Mare
• ROSCI0323 Muntii Ciucului
• ROSCI0297 Dealurile Tarnavei Mici-Biches

The project will target 4 habitat types:

• 40A0* (Annex 1 of European Habitats Directive) Subcontinental peri-Pannonic scrub
• 6240* (EU HD Annex 1) Sub-Pannonic steppic grasslands
• 6210* (EU HD Annex 1) Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco- Brometalia)
• E3.4a. (European habitats Red List) Moist or wet mesotrophic to eutrophic hay meadow.

EXPECTED RESULTS IN ROMANIA:

• 600 hectares of priority grassland habitats restored (500 hectares of grassland restored from poor condition to suitable condition, in 3 SCIs, 100 hectares restored under pilot agri-environment contracts);
• Mapping of habitat distribution in 3 Natura 2000 sites;
• Mapping of action sites: restoration and seed collection;
• Make significant contributions to conservation of *40A0, *6210, *6240, and E3.4a in 3 important grassland sites in Transylvania (SCI0227, SCI0297, SCI0323);
• Indirectly restore/protect 1,200 ha through replication (working with farmer associations, who have expressed willingness to participate);
• Improve mapping to demonstrate threats;
• Propose agri-environment schemes aimed at reducing the decline of the targeted habitats;
• Develop of seed collection skills and re-seeding protocols for Natura 2000 sites (and for other High Nature Value grasslands);
• Develop at least 1 regional species-rich seed mixture, including the establishing the seed collecting process from identifying species-rich grasslands which will serve as source of seeds, collecting the seeds of various target species, their cultivation in multiplication beds, harvesting, processing and preparing the seed mixture;
• Development of pilot agri-environmental measures focused on restoration and optimal management of species-rich grasslands;
• Improved understanding by farmer associations of grassland management by involving at least 50 local farmers, and a total area of 100 ha targeted;
• Biodiversity monitoring on restored habitats;
• Collecting feedback from cooperating farmers;
• Conducting research in 3 project areas;
• Improve analysis of management requirements for the range of HD Priority grassland habitats.

ROMANIAN PARTNER ORGANISATIONS

Milvus Group is a dedicated nature conservation organization committed to protecting biodiversity and promoting a world where people live in harmony with nature. Since its founding in 1991, the association has worked tirelessly to safeguard natural heritage through applied research, conservation initiatives for endangered species, environmental education, and advocacy for stronger nature protection policies. With a team of experienced biologists and ecologists, Milvus Group upholds expertise, credibility, and perseverance as core values, ensuring that its work is grounded in scientific best practices and long-term commitment to conservation.

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The Agri-Cultura-Natura Transylvania Association is dedicated to fostering sustainable development in Transylvania, with a focus on the Csíki Basin and Gyimes Valley. Balancing tradition with innovation, the association supports projects that promote regional growth while preserving cultural and natural heritage. Recognizing that development is inevitable, it strives to guide progress in alignment with core values that respect the region’s identity. With a team of highly trained professionals with diverse expertise, the association ensures that its initiatives are both forward-thinking and deeply rooted in local heritage.

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The Institute of Biological Research Cluj is a prestigious research institution dedicated to fundamental and applied biological sciences. Through its two main departments, Taxonomy and Ecology, and Experimental Biology, ICB Cluj employs a multidisciplinary approach to the study of biodiversity, ecosystem processes, and biotechnological innovations. The Department of Taxonomy and Ecology investigates biological diversity, ecological interactions, and the conservation of natural resources, integrating research on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems within the fields of plant and animal sciences. The Department of Experimental Biology explores the mechanisms of life at molecular, cellular, and physiological levels, with a focus on genetics, biochemistry, and their biotechnological applications. ICB Cluj is a dynamic and continuously evolving research centre at the intersection of ecology, technology, and sustainable development, addressing current challenges in biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.

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