LONG-TERM ABANDONMENT OF CROPLANDS IN THE SUBMEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE DOES NOT LEAD PER SE TO THE RECOVERY OF THE SEMI-NATURAL HERB COMMUNITIES DEEMED WORTHY OF CONSERVATION IN THE EU HABITATS DIRECTIVE

We found that topographic and soil conditions drive the species assemblage in pastures after crop abandonment, but long-term abandonment does not lead per se to the recovery of the semi-natural grassland communities deemed worthy of conservation in the EEC Directive. This was mainly due to the lack of appropriate disturbance regimes that allows the spread of dominant tall herbs, which, in turn, reduces the site suitability for subordinate plants. Moreover, their spread fosters the presence of elements such as ruderals and fringe species.