Publication Details |
| Category | Text Publication |
| Reference Category | Journals |
| DOI | 10.3389/fenvs.2026.1853979 |
Licence  |
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| Title (Primary) | Evolution of lawns as grasslands: a cross-continental, socio-ecological analysis and implications for nature-based alternatives |
| Author | Ignatieva, M.; Dushkova, D.
; Müller, N. |
| Source Titel | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| Year | 2026 |
| Department | NSF |
| Volume | 14 |
| Page From | art. 1853979 |
| Language | englisch |
| Topic | T5 Future Landscapes |
| Supplements | Supplement 1 |
| Abstract | Conventional short cut lawns are a globally dominant landscape element but are increasingly criticised for their low ecological value and high maintenance. This research considers the lawn as a unique human-made type of grassland that originated from European semi-natural grasslands in Medieval Europe and passed through several historical periods, becoming an ecological and cultural phenomenon. The study employs an integrative, mixed-methods approach that synthesises (a) analyses of inter- and transdisciplinary research projects on lawns led by authors over the past decades (1980–2025), providing a cross-continental perspective, (b) a narrative literature review, and (c) analysis of historical artworks. It offers a new conceptual framework that is historically informed, ecologically grounded, and socially relevant, and supports the development of nature-based alternatives. Consequently, the biodiversity of European lawns is higher than in other continents, where lawns were introduced between the late 18th and 20th centuries through colonial and cultural expansion. Compared to Europe, lawns in other continents rely on introduced (non-native) species adapted for lawn use, resulting in lower plant species richness and functional diversity. We identified two main categories of nature-based solutions for lawns, differentiated by composition and structure: wildflower meadows (native plant species-rich grasslands) and ornamental plantings (non-grass-dominated systems that replace lawns entirely and do not create turf). These categories are analysed through implemented examples from multiple countries. The development of nature-based alternatives to conventional lawns and their implementation in landscape architecture practice varies significantly across regions and requires a context-specific, ecologically sound, and socially appropriate approach. |
| Ignatieva, M., Dushkova, D., Müller, N. (2026): Evolution of lawns as grasslands: a cross-continental, socio-ecological analysis and implications for nature-based alternatives Front. Environ. Sci. 14 , art. 1853979 10.3389/fenvs.2026.1853979 |
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