The role of agriculture and agri-environmentfunding in maintaining regional biodiversity
Expert-Workshop
Gabala, Azerbaijan, 5-6 July 2010
Dipl.-Biologin
Nadja Kasperczyk
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Outline:
Challenges for agricultural biodiversity in Europe
Main funding instruments for agriculture and agri-environment
Outlook
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Challenges for agricultural biodiversity in Europe
Europe‘s biodiversity is strongly linked to agricultural practices
Creating agro-ecosystems / high nature value farmland
Main trends:Disappearing of traditional, low-intensity farming systems
Agricultural intensification Land abandonment (less productive areas)
Loss of species and habitats depending on low-intensity farming (e.g. farmland birds)
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Challenges for agricultural biodiversity in Europe
Shift of understanding: From nature conservation through excluding human resource use →integrating protection and sustainable land use
1990s: Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)Strict agricultural production support →broader focus (public goods,
ecosystem services)3 priority areas for action of the CAP:
1. Biodiversity and preservation of natural farming systems, traditional agricultural landscapes
2. Water management and use3. Climate change
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Main funding instruments for agriculture andagri-environment
Two main CAP pillars:
Pillar 1: direct payments to farmers and market interventions
Pillar 2: Rural development policy (EAFRD)
Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector (Axis 1)
Improving the environment and the countryside (Axis 2)
Quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy (Axis 3)
Agri-Environmental Schemes (AES) specifically address biodiversity issues
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Main funding instruments for agriculture andagri-environment
Agri-Environmental Schemes (AES):
Environmental incentive schemes with voluntary participation Encourage environmentally sensitive farming (commitments beyond
obligatory standards) Specified measures describe farming obligations Contracts (usually for 5 years) signed by individual farmer AES are a mandatory part of rural develoment plans of Member
States
At-EU-27 level: most important measures (23% payments of pillar 2)
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Main funding instruments for agriculture andagri-environment
Support for mountain regions with natural handicaps or other disadvantaged areas (Axis 2)
Protection, development and management of the natural heritage that contributes to sustainable economic development (Axis 3)
For example: tourism, marketing of regional products etc.
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Outlook
Evaluation of rural development policy and its programmes (ex ante, mid-term, ex-post)
AES (and others) contribute to a sustainable agriculture and the conservation of agricultural biodiversity
But: CAP is not changing sufficiently to reduce biodiversity loss
Challenge: introduce structural elements and more ‚extensive‘ agricultural practices into intensively farmed areas
Thank you for your attention!
Nadja Kasperczyk
IfLS – Institute for Rural Development ResearchZeppelinstraße 3160325 Frankfurt am MainGermany
Telefon ++49 69 77 50 01www.ifls.de
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