Dry steppic, submediterranean pasture of South-Eastern Europe

This habitat type is composed of dry steppic, submediterranean pastures, found along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea and the southeastern coastal districts of the Italian Peninsula. These semi-natural grasslands appear in the meso/supra-Mediterranean and Mediterranean-montane vegetation belts, where the zonal vegetation is represented by thermophilous deciduous forest, dominated by Quercus pubescens s.l., Ostrya carpinifolia and Carpinus orientalis, or locally (especially in Italy) by evergreen forests dominated by Quercus ilex. As the mountain chains extend parallel to the coastline, the climatic influence does not penetrate deeply into the inland regions of the Balkan Peninsula. The climate shows two peaks of precipitation during the year, with the main peak appearing in autumn (November) and a second peak in spring (May). The amount of precipitation can be very fluctuating and vary up to 3000 mm on mountain barriers. However, even when precipitation is relatively high, the water flows mainly underground due to the nature of the bedrock, which is mainly composed of carbonate. Due to the lack of precipitation and the high temperature reached during the summer, the vegetation suffers from drought during these months. Winters are mild, with temperatures that do not drop much below freezing.

Since the bedrock generally lies close to the surface, these habitats are characterized by many chamaephytes and can be used only as pastures. Sometimes the carbonate bedrock is substituted by “flysch” marls (terra rossa) and sandstones. The morphology of this habitat is characterized by valleys, dolinas and sink-holes with depositional soils and clay from decalcification at the bottom.

Two habitat subtypes may be distinguished based on their biogeographic distribution, which correspond to two alliances: Chrysopogono-Saturejion subspicatae for the Balkan Peninsula, and Hippocrepido glaucae-Stipion austroitalicae, which is endemic to southeastern Italy. The latter refers to steppe grasslands with the endemic species Stipa austroitalica.

This habitat type is the result of a long time of human influence. After the Second World War, abandonment of this habitat begun. Firstly, only the less productive pastures were abandoned, but later also other examples of this grasslands were not managed anymore. Nowadays, a mosaic with various stages of scrub encroachment is found. Succession towards forests begins with high stalk plants (e.g. Umbelliferaea) and scrub species (e.g. Cotinus coggygria). In order to maintain these habitats, traditional management (grazing, mowing) should be continued. In early successional stages, restoration is relatively easy by introduction of livestock. However, livestock intensification leads to the destruction of the habitat, so animal numbers should not be too high. In certain sites, this habitat is affected by urbanization.

Indicators of good quality:

• Species richness of the grasslands and presence of character species
• Absence of invasive species
• Absence of high tall herbs, shrubs and trees
• Regular grazing/mowing
• Absence of intensive grazing

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats