Skip to main content
European Commission logo
Portal of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change

Restoring mountain meadows for climate resilience in Râu Sadului and Cristian, Romania

Drone-assisted grassland revitalisation to combat drought, erosion and biodiversity loss

  • Up to 55 hectares

    area studied

  • Up to 200kg/ha

    of approved organic amendment/fertiliser

  • 2023-2028

    Implementation platform

Replicability

A scalable model for climate-resilient meadow restoration.

Best suited for

This model is best suited for regions with degraded pastures, meadows and grasslands, where climate hazards threaten both the ecological balance of the area and traditional livelihoods in communities that depend on sectors such as small-scale farming and agrotourism. It is particularly effective in mountainous or hard-to-access areas, where steep slopes and rough terrain limit the use of conventional equipment, making drone-assisted interventions a practical solution. The bottom-up approach is also effective in areas where traditional knowledge is being lost, helping to preserve it. 

Stakeholders' role

The project’s multistakeholder framework ensures shared ownership and expertise.  The EU-funded project team leads on overall coordination and funding and carries out most of the interventions. Local actors draw on their established networks to bring stakeholders together. The various stakeholders then contribute their own areas of expertise. For example, farmers and shepherds offer invaluable insight into grazing cycles and historical land-use, while researchers can impart knowledge on the more technical aspects of the interventions. 

Built-in scalable tools

The project incorporates several adaptive and modular features that make it easily scalable. Drone technology enables cost-effective, precise interventions on difficult terrain, reducing the need for labour-intensive methods and enabling the expansion of restoration across larger and more remote areas. Interventions are also customisable depending on soil type and altitude, maximising the replicability of the model in different environments. Monitoring systems, such as botanical surveys, allow for timely adjustments, ensuring strategies remain effective as conditions change. Knowledge-sharing measures such as the local consultative council ensure that models are constantly refined according to local needs. 

Funding pathways

The support for these activities originates from the MountResilience project, which is funded by the EU Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change via the EU’s Horizon Europe programme.