The grasslands of Central Europe are habitats of great ecological and economic importance whose biodiversity has declined drastically due to human influence. Using a globally unique dataset of historical vegetation records, the Square Foot Project aims to quantify this transformation over more than a century and identify its drivers.

Earth's biodiversity has declined so dramatically over the past 100–150 years that a sixth mass extinction event is posited. While this decline itself is undisputed, it remains unclear which facets of biodiversity are affected and how. Little is known about the relative importance of different drivers such as land use change, climate change, site alteration, nutrient enrichment, the simplification of landscape structure, and the influence of alien species.

Understanding the extent and causes of species loss is relevant both for fundamental research and practical conservation. Accordingly, one subproject will explore whether and how species-rich grasslands can be protected under current conditions.