On the Greek island of Samothraki, decades of overgrazing by the large domestic population of small ruminants accelerated soil degradation and surface erosion, with direct consequences for ecosystem functioning and the delivery of ecosystem services. This manuscript reports on a 5-year research project to achieve more sustainable pasture management practices among small ruminant farmers on the island, through the introduction of Sown Biodiverse Pastures (SBP). This practice, based on sowing a seed mixture of legumes and grasses that increase pasture productivity, has proven to be a successful tool to overcome degradation of ruminant pastures in Portugal. Local small ruminant farmers on Samothraki, a difficult group when it comes to the acceptance of new practices and ideas, were engaged in the transdisciplinary research process, and trained in appropriate management practices of SBP. This led to the adoption and implementation of SBP by nine farmers on 13 parcels. Quantitative data on species composition and productivity shows that the performance and persistence of SBP on Samothraki is favourable, if soil preparation and sowing is practiced as recommended, and relevant management practices are adopted. Comparing with conventional agricultural practices, i.e. annual crop – fallow rotation, productivity in SBP outperformed the forage quantity in fallow land, while yield in the annual crop was approximately equal as compared to SBP. The increasing forage capacity of SBP instigates several environmental and economic benefits, such as a reduction of grazing pressure in vulnerable areas, and less expenditure on supplementary feed requirements. However, lack of will and trust in these new practices and seed mixtures among local farmers resulted in discontinuation in almost half of the parcels. The adoption of new management practices by the farming community on Samothraki required continuous efforts, and the short-term framework of the research project did not favour long-term success. It is recommended for any programs aiming at changing farming practices to engage with local stakeholders, especially farmers, and to closely collaborate with local institutional partners who can carry the work forward after scientific researchers have left.

中文翻译：

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改变希腊萨莫色拉奇岛上的牧场管理实践：障碍和机遇


在希腊萨莫色拉基岛上，数十年来国内大量小反刍动物过度放牧，加速了土壤退化和地表侵蚀，对生态系统功能和生态系统服务的提供产生了直接影响。本手稿报告了一个为期 5 年的研究项目，旨在通过引入播种生物多样性牧场 (SBP)，在岛上的小反刍动物农民中实现更可持续的牧场管理实践。这种做法基于播种豆类和草的种子混合物，可以提高牧场生产力，已被证明是克服葡萄牙反刍动物牧场退化的成功工具。 Samothraki 当地的反刍小农户是一个很难接受新做法和想法的群体，他们参与了跨学科研究过程，并接受了 SBP 适当管理实践的培训。这导致 9 名农民在 13 个地块上采用并实施了 SBP。物种组成和生产力的定量数据表明，如果按照建议进行整地和播种，并采取相关管理措施，SBP 在 Samothraki 上的表现和持久性是有利的。与传统农业实践（即一年生作物休耕轮作）相比，SBP的生产力优于休耕地的草料数量，而一年生作物的产量与SBP大致相当。 SBP 不断增加的饲料能力带来了多种环境和经济效益，例如减少脆弱地区的放牧压力，以及减少补充饲料需求的支出。 然而，当地农民对这些新做法和种子混合物缺乏意愿和信任，导致近一半的土地停产。萨莫色拉基岛的农业社区采用新的管理实践需要不断的努力，而研究项目的短期框架并不利于长期的成功。建议任何旨在改变耕作方式的项目与当地利益相关者（尤其是农民）合作，并与当地机构合作伙伴密切合作，以便在科学研究人员离开后继续开展工作。