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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