Mitarbeitende

We conducted a (non-representative) online survey in Switzerland to reveal professional stakeholders' perceptions and attitudes towards ecosystem services (ES) provided by permanent grassland. According to the 398 respondents, erosion control, soil fertility, feed production, habitat provision (for biodiversity), and groundwater protection currently represent the most relevant grassland ES. Regarding the future, stakeholders assumed particularly climate regulation (carbon storage), soil fertility, and groundwater protection to increase in relevance. The majority (84%) of respondents stated that grassland ES are insufficiently recognised by society. Almost three quarters of the stakeholders associated grassland management intensification with a loss of ES multifunctionality, and 60% expected higher ES multifunctionality of organic compared to conventional grassland. Our survey revealed that strategies to ensure and to value grassland ES by society and by future agricultural policies might be welcome and supported by stakeholders in Switzerland.