Meadows

Natural, semi-natural and cultivated grasslands can be found in Žemaitija National Park. The latter dominate the open landscape. Natural grassland communities are the most valuable in terms of biodiversity. However, many of them have been destroyed by artificial drainage and reforestation in the second half of the last century. Meadows are also changing as a reult of modern farming practices. Some are being abandoned, leading to the spread of shrubs and trees. In other grasslands, overgrazing or grass cutting is changing the community structure and leading to the establishment of low-value herbaceous plants. Small patches of natural grassland remain in the National Park‘s river valleys, forest clearings, hillsides, foothills of wetlands and lakes. These meadows are adorned with colourful globeflower (Trollius europaeus), European bistort (Bistorta officinalis), meadow crane’s-bill (Geranium pratense), early-purple orchid (Orchis mascula) and other plants. Interspersed with other habitats, there are also larger areas of cultivated grassland, which have developed over the years and are characteristic of their natural habitat.

The most widespread habitat types of grassland of European importance in the National Park are 6510 Lowland hay meadows and 6270 species-rich dry to mesic grasslands.  Not only these, but also other grassland habitats in the National Park are important for the survival of protected or endangered plant species. They are also essential for animals as feeding, breeding or temporary resting sites.