Forests could be restored to their former glory with the help of large herbivores – even elephants

The species of life in the temperate zone of Täkää did not originally develop to thrive in the thick reeds, but in a mosaic where grasses break up sparsely wooded forests and occasional denser heathers.

About that reports Biological Conservation – science magazine, an international group of researchers who determined, among other things, on the basis of fossils and ancient DNA, Europe’s habitat types from the past 20 million years.

It turned out that the most dominant environment was a mosaic, which was maintained by grazing and trampling by big hornbills and weevils.

Mosaics were even found in the Ice Age mammoth crater. Only when the largest herbivores disappeared at the end of the ice age, did extensive and dense forests begin to become common.

In addition, the researchers analyzed the current animal species in Europe, from insects to vertebrates. They found that they developed during the mosaic and still thrive best in such. It even applies to roe deer and bears, which are considered species of dense forests.

The result on the basis of this, the researchers believe that Europe’s nature conservation should be reformed.

Nowadays, the European Union uses the habitat directive of 1992, where habitat types are mainly defined as either completely uniform forests or completely open vegetation areas.

The regulation is based on the old concept, according to which forests in humid temperate climates naturally become denser.

Current situation according to the researchers, could gradually begin to improve by fencing off experimental areas, where the populations of large herbivores would grow to an ancient density and limit the growth of tree seedlings.

As forest choppers, you could try not only moose, roe deer, wild boars and bicentenarians, but also horses and cattle that have been released into the wild, and even elephants brought from Asia or Africa.

It’s not just about restoring the past but investing in the future, the researchers emphasize.

The mosaic landscape supported the diversity of nature during the great climate changes of the past and could do the same in the future as well.