After 5 years of working to integrate sustainable livestock farming and environmental protection, the LIFE GRACE (GRAsslands Conservation Efforts through usage) project, co-funded by the European Union, announces its conclusion and the publication of its Layman's Report, which summarizes the objectives, actions, and results of the project in an accessible informational document.
The project was born with the main goal of promoting the conservation of semi-natural grasslands in 3 Natura 2000 sites in the Lazio Region, where abandonment and an incorrect management of pastures are threatening the biodiversity of these habitats. LIFE GRACE’s innovative approach aimed to combine environmental protection with the promotion of extensive livestock farming of native grass-fed breeds.
The Layman’s Report describes the key results of the project, particularly the development of tools to get farmers and local administrators involved in sustainable grassland management and in the building of business networks centered around grass-fed meat produced in the project areas (Tolfa Mountains, Ausoni-Aurunci Mountains, Reatini Mountains).
Tools such as the Code of Conduct and the best practices developed during the project can be adopted at a national or European scale and, above, all, they can constitute a solid legacy for the LIFE GRACE areas, where the sustainable management of Natura 2000 grassland habitats must be a long-term commitment and the role of extensive farming as a tool for conservation must be reinforced.
To find out the details of LIFE GRACE’s experience and legacy, we encourage all stakeholders, citizens and project collaborators to download the Layman’s Report.