Research priorities for grassland science in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Grasslands and rangelands have long been solely considered as a place for livestock grazing with no regard to the many other ecosystem goods and services that they provide. Mismanagement affects significantly the forage production and the biodiversity in the Mediterranean grasslands. The study of functional traits of plant species related to their response to gr azing or other agronomic practices could contribute to the further understanding of variou s management effects on these ecosystems. For the appropriate management techniques to be applied, the multifunctiona lity of these ecosystems and the climatic change should be taken into account.