Opportunities and barriers for promoting biodiversity in Danish beef production

Abstract Despite being a key process in ecosystems, natural grazing is rare, whereas abandonment and overgrazing frequently results in loss of threatened species. Here, we evaluate a biodiversity-promotion strategy of a Danish beef producing company involving nature conservation by livestock grazing. Using field surveys, a national biodiversity map and interviews with livestock farmers, we evaluate the potential nature conservation by farmers committed to a conservation grazing scheme. We found that most farmers practiced summer-grazing, primarily grazed areas of low conservation value, and with stocking rates far above carrying capacity. We conclude that a conservation grazing beef brand will only have real value for threatened and habitat-typical species if committed and held accountable to a scientifically informed grazing scheme. Our results point to agricultural traditions, regulations, and economic incentives as responsible for the observed obstruction of a beneficial natural grazing practice. Hence, the results of this study call for a critical and scientifically informed approach to future land-sharing policies.