Abstract
Perception of measures aimed at the conservation of species-rich grasslands in mountain ecosystems. – The “Grasslands for Biodiversity” (G4B) project aims to promote the protection and maintenance of the biodiversity of species-rich grassland in the Alps and Carpathians. The project also seeks to develop practical and useful tools for their conservation, applicable at various administrative levels, from local to international. To achieve this, the perceptions of all those directly or indirectly involved in these measures are being evaluated through a questionnaire addressed to seven distinct groups: administrators of protected areas, policymakers and regional-level administrations, farmers' unions and organizations, farm advisors (including veterinarians), nature protection organizations (NGOs), foresters and hunters, scientists from relevant scientific fields. The questionnaire, distributed to these groups, collects essential information for policymakers' interactions with local communities and stakeholders in the implementation of such measures, which in turn generates synergies that are useful for the protection and sustainable improvement of mountain ecosystems. A preliminary analysis of the data collected from respondents in South Tyrol (Italy) and Tyrol (Austria) reveals a general consensus among stakeholders on the importance of public funding as an essential tool for the management and conservation of mountain grassland. However, when more specific issues are addressed, such as the role of ecosystem services provided by these habitats or the level of effort required from farmers, opinions become less uniform