Why was the PannFlora project created?

The idea for the PannFlora project evolved over several years through interdisciplinary dialogue between experts in botany, agriculture, nature conservation and seed production. In the Pannonian region of the Czech Republic and Austria, we have long observed that grasslands are losing their resilience due to climate change, unsuitable species composition, and inadequate management. Species composition is shifting, and standard maintenance methods are no longer effective.

Yet grasslands make up a large part of the green infrastructure in both urban and rural landscapes. They have great potential to cool the environment, retain water, and support biodiversity. In practice, however, there is often a lack of suitable seed, especially of regional origin, adapted to the specific conditions of the Pannonian climate.

There was a need for a platform to connect these disciplines and seek solutions. The PannFlora project was created in response to the need to find practical ways to adapt meadows to climate change. It uses naturally resilient plant species specific to the Pannonian region and ecological restoration approaches such as the use of hemiparasitic plants. The project builds on the European trend of promoting regional seed and offers know-how that can help municipalities, conservationists, and green space managers care for the landscape more effectively.

The project is supported by the Interreg Austria–Czech Republic programme, which fosters practical cross-border cooperation. After all, the Pannonian region transcends national borders – plants, soils, and climate do not respect them. International collaboration is thus a natural part of the solution.

Project pillars

Regional seed mixtures

Ikona polohy v tmavě fialové barvě s bílým listem ve středu.

Development of new mixtures from native species and locally collected seeds to enhance the ecological stability of grasslands and support biodiversity.

What does it involve?

  • Selecting suitable plant species.
  • Collecting seeds directly from nature.
  • Developing methods for the effective propagation of individual species.
  • Growing seeds for practical use.
  • Creating custom-made wildflower mixtures for different needs (urban and rural).
  • Testing the mixtures in real conditions.

Management

No description

Use of ecological restoration and optimized grassland management to increase their resilience to climate change and support biodiversity.

What does it involve?

  • Enriching existing grasslands with new species.
  • Restoring grasslands using hemiparasitic plants.
  • Comparing different management methods and their impact on species composition and resilience.
  • Measuring grassland resilience to climate change.
  • Setting up appropriate care that supports biodiversity and grassland resilience.

Pilot implementations

Piktogram zobrazující mapu s vlajkou a rostlinou.

Establishing new grasslands from regional seed and restoring existing areas to promote low-impact maintenance in cooperation with green space managers.

What does it involve?

  • Sowing wildflower seed mixtures at various locations in the Czech and Austrian parts of the Pannonian region.
  • Establishing and restoring grasslands using different methods.
  • Collaborating with municipalities and public green space managers.
  • Sharing experience and practical examples.
  • Long-term monitoring and evaluation of grassland development.

Outreach

No description

Spreading knowledge about wildflower meadows and their management to promote sustainability and adapt these grasslands to climate change.

What does it involve?

  • Organising hands-on thematic workshops.
  • Close cooperation with pilot site managers.
  • Sharing experiences among partners and across regions.
  • Transferring know-how.
  • Engaging the public and communicating information in an accessible way.

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