The loss of grassland habitats across Europe and beyond has driven dramatic declines in farmland birds. Restoration efforts can reverse these losses and improve wildlife welfare at scale.
Grassland loss affects birds not only through habitat removal but through reduced food availability — insects, seeds, and invertebrates that depend on diverse plant communities. Intensive agriculture has replaced varied grasslands with monocultures that support minimal invertebrate life, starving insectivorous birds and their chicks. Welfare impacts extend to breeding failure, increased competition, and prolonged foraging effort. Restoration of flower-rich grasslands, field margins, and buffer strips provides foraging, nesting, and shelter habitats. Whole-landscape approaches that connect restored patches allow population recovery and reduce the stress of habitat fragmentation.