Grassland restoration drives strong multitrophic biodiversity recovery, but climate extremes jeopardize drought-sensitive species

Semi-natural grasslands, Europe’s most biodiverse ecosystems, are rapidly declining due to agricultural intensification, abandonment, and afforestation, leading to biodiversity loss and reduced ecosystem function. Despite their ecological value, grasslands are often overlooked, while afforestation, for instance, is prioritized for climate mitigation. This study assessed the effects of grassland abandonment, afforestation, and ecological restoration on multitrophic species richness and soil conditions. We used Estonian semi-natural calcareous grasslands (alvars) as a model system. We surveyed different taxa in proximity to a fixed, permanently marked point, which was chosen to be reflective of the average subsite condition. Results showed that historical overgrown and afforested grasslands recover fast and rapidly become species-rich after woody plant removal and low-intensity grazing reinstatement. These grasslands also serve as stable carbon sinks, storing soil carbon at levels compara..., , , # Data from: Grassland restoration drives strong multitrophic biodiversity recovery, but climate extremes jeopardize drought-sensitive species

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.pg4f4qs1b](10.5061/dryad.pg4f4qs1b)

## Description of the data and file structure

In connection with the LIFE to alvars (LIFE13 NAT/EE/000082) restoration project, a monitoring scheme was established with the intent to track the long-term ecological consequences of overgrowing, afforestation, and grassland restoration. In this dataset, you can find the results of the first two ecological surveys conducted as part of this monitoring scheme - one survey of different organism groups and soil properties done before grassland restoration (2014-2016) another survey done after the restoration (2019).

The monitoring scheme included 29 restoration sites, where restoration was implemented, and 7 unrestored comparison sites with no restoration actions performed - altogether 36 study sites.

Before the restoration, three diff...,