Grasslands contribution on conservation of wild avifauna

In Mavrovouni of Thessaly a management project was carried out for the conservation of environment and avifauna. In this project the importance of grasslands for the maintenance of wild avifauna was brought out. Grasslands comprise the habitat of many bird species of avifauna such as woodlark (Lullula arborea), short-toed larc (Calandrella brachydactyla), stonechat (Saxicola torquata), tawny pipit (Anthus campestris) and rock thrush (Monticola saxatilis). Also, the birds of prey such as short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus), honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), kestrel (Falco tinninculus) and kesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) are using these habitats for hunting of their prey. In the study, special actions were proposed for the maintenance of rangelands as they exist or for improvement of their condition, such as: 1.Control treatment of the grazing for the mountainous extensive livestock-farming aiming at the maintenance of vegetation structure. This action will be applied after calculating their grazing capacity, in order to avoid overgrazing. 2. Improvement of vegetation with the proper use of rangelands, weed control, fertilizations and seeding of herbaceous plants. 3. Maintenance of already existing tree fences, shrub fences and scattered clumps or individual trees and introduction of trees in appropriate places.