The role of grasslands in the less favoured areas of Mediterranean Europe

Mediterranean extensive grassland-based systems were in the past and are currently subjected to the contrasting threats of intensification and abandonment, especially in less favoured areas. Despite the strong socio-economic and environmental differences between and within the Mediterranean regions,they share common issues on grasslands. One of the main issues is to increase the sustainability ofgrasslands and the grassland-based systems. In this paper, we discuss some key factors that can strengthen the resilience and adaptability of grasslands and which could be considered also as mitigation strategies for climate change. Additionally, to enhance the results of agronomic practices, both public perception and management schemes about less favoured areas should urgently be reoriented in order to increase the attractiveness of extensive systems against intensive agriculture. For this reason, there is a rising demand for scientific knowledge and new holistic approaches aimed at (1) supporting the optimization of the economic performance of extensive livestock systems by increasing the added value of products, and (2) encouraging policies for the development of sustainable farming systems, where farmers are also rewarded for their supply of ecosystem services.