Extensively managed mountain hay meadows are the richest terrestrial ecosystems of Europe, because they consist of a very high number of plant, insect and other animal species. However, Europe has lost more and more of these sites. The extensive management is very labour intensive and provides a very low income. This had led to an intensifi cation of many extensive grasslands, conversion to pastures or arable fi elds, or their abandonment. Under this project Landcare Germany and the Pogány-havas Regional Association (PHA) organised an international conference on “Management of extensive grasslands in mountain areas” to raise awareness on the value of the species rich mountain grasslands to secure political support for their conservation.