This paper analyses and discusses the ecosystem services (ES) of cattle farming on permanent grassland and their importance from the perspective of farmers and consumers. Permanent grassland is an important part of the agricultural landscape, and provides numerous benefits, such as forage production, biodiversity conservation, erosion control, improved soil carbon sequestration, soil fertility, conservation and provision of important habitats for pollinators and other wildlife species. From a farmer’s perspective, the most important aspects are the production of high-quality feed for livestock, the preservation of agricultural land, and the support of the local economy. Consumers, on the other hand, value the conservation of biodiversity and the provision of opportunities for recreation and tourism. In the second part of the paper, we analysed questionnaires on grassland ecosystem services, that were collected as part of the international SUPER-G project. Based on the questionnaires (n = 56), we were able to find out how well Slovenian cattle farmers understand the ecosystem services (ES) of permanent grassland. Most farms introduced fertilisation plans, control of invasive plant species , and stocking density management. The main reasons for introducing environmental measures related to grassland ES were personal choices, legislation, and the maintenance of traditional farming practises.
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