Transition of an abandoned Dutch agrosilvopastoral landscape to "new wilderness" by extensive grazing with free-ranging cattle and horses

The Veluwezoom National Park, a former agrosilvopastoral landscape covering 4900 ha (central part of The Netherlands), was designated in 1930 as a national park after most agricultural activities had been stopped due to changed agroeconomic conditions. The area comprised a mosaic of dry grass-heaths, pastures, abandoned arable fields, scrub and coniferous and deciduous woodland. From the 1980s, transition to 'new wilderness' became the main management aim, applying large-scale extensive grazing. Free-ranging cattle and horses were introduced. It was questioned if the high habitat diversity of this semi-open landscape was maintained by extensive grazing, without additional management measures. Research has been carried out on habitat use and interaction of domestic and wild herbivore grazers, and the impact of grazing on woody regeneration dynamics. Possibilities and constraints of extensive, year-round grazing with free-ranging cattle and horses as a management option in the transition of an agrosilvopastoral landscape to 'new wilderness' are discussed