Study finds Europe's ancient landscapes were open woodlands, not dense forests

The short version

• Researchers led by Aarhus University reviewed paleoecological records from the Miocene through the pre-industrial era.[ScienceDaily]
• The study concludes Europe was dominated by open woodlands, meadows, and large grazing animals for over 20 million years.[ScienceDaily]
• Professor Jens-Christian Svenning says current reforestation practices will harm biodiversity, and no independent confirmation appears in the reporting.[ScienceDaily]
• PhD student Szymon Czyzewski says traditional extensive grazing largely disappeared from much of the landscape within the last century.[ScienceDaily]

Key facts

• A study published in Biological Conservation examined paleoecological records from the Miocene epoch through the pre-industrial era.[ScienceDaily]
• Researchers led by Aarhus University reported that Europe was dominated for more than 20 million years by open woodlands, meadows, and large grazing animals.[ScienceDaily]
• Professor Jens-Christian Svenning stated that current reforestation practices are on the wrong track and will be harmful for biodiversity.[ScienceDaily]
• PhD student Szymon Czyzewski stated that traditional extensive grazing disappeared from large parts of the landscape largely within the last hundred years.[ScienceDaily]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Scientists discover Europe's ancient forests were nothing like we imaginedScienceDaily - Science