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Summary
Meadows are areas or fields whose main vegetation is grass, or other non-woody plants, used for mowing and haying. Pastures are grassed or wooded areas, moorland or heathland, generally used for grazing. Due to their rooted soils and their permanent cover, meadows and pastures provide good conditions for the uptake and storage of water during temporary floods. They also protect water quality by trapping sediments and assimilating nutrients.
The measure offers the potential for temporary flood storage, increased water retention in the landscape and runoff attenuation. Soil cover is maintained at all times with rooted vegetation, this reduces the surface flow of water and allows greater infiltration to the soil. Rates of soil erosion are considerably lower than arable land with potential benefits for water quality.
Benefits
Ecosystem service
Level | Benefits | |
---|---|---|
High | Regulatory and maintenance | ES7 - Flood risk reduction |
High | Regulatory and maintenance | ES8 - Erosion/sediment control |
Medium | Regulatory and maintenance | ES5 - Climate change adaptation and mitigation |
Medium | Regulatory and maintenance | ES6 - Groundwater/aquifer recharge |
Medium | Regulatory and maintenance | ES9 - Filtration of pollutants |
Biophysical impacts
Level | Benefits | ||
---|---|---|---|
High | Mechanism of Water Retention | Slowing and reducing runoff | BP2 - Slow runoff |
High | Biophysical Impacts Resulting from Water Retention | Soil conservation | BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery |
Medium | Mechanism of Water Retention | Reducing runoff | BP5 - Increase evapotranspiration |
Medium | Mechanism of Water Retention | Reducing runoff | BP7 - Increase soil water retention |
Medium | Biophysical Impacts Resulting from Water Retention | Climate alteration | BP17 - Absorb and/or retain CO2 |
Low | Mechanism of Water Retention | Reducing runoff | BP6 - Increase infiltration and/or groundwater recharge |
Low | Biophysical Impacts Resulting from Water Retention | Soil conservation | BP11 - Improve soils |
Policy Objectives
Level | Benefits |
---|---|
High | PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks |
High | PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure |
Medium | PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements |
Medium | PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration |
Medium | PO12 - More sustainable agriculture and forestry |
Medium | PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss |
Low | PO5 - Improving quantitative status |
Low | PO8 - Prevent groundwater status deterioration |
Related case studies
- Alzette river restoration in Dumonshaff, Luxembourg
- Dyke relocation on the river Elbe near Lenzen, Germany
- Flood meadows in the Marais Poitevin, France
- Holter-Hammrich Area - Flood Protection and Nature Conservation, Germany
- Restoration of Wetlands in the Western Lowland Area of the Dümmer Lake, Germany
- Horstergrub sediment management, Belgium
- River basin management of the Ill, France