300291 VO Ecology and management of meadows and pastures (2008W)

The lecture provides an overview on plant communities on Central European meadows and pastures with special reference to the Alps. Causalities for the assembling of meadow, and pasture, communities as well as the sustainable use and management is discussed in details. The lecture deals also with modern trends in dairy farming and discusses the ecological problems caused by industrial farming practices. As an alternative, models how to use meadows and pastures sustainably, and how to maintain their beauty and biological diversity are presented. It is important to note that wise, and sustainable, management of meadows and pastures is economically successful.