The role of agriculture and agri-environment funding in maintaining regional biodiversity

1. The role of agriculture and agri-environmentfunding in maintaining regional biodiversity Expert-Workshop Gabala, Azerbaijan, 5-6 July 2010 Dipl.-Biologin Nadja Kasperczyk Gabala Expert-workshop, 5-6 July 2010 1

2. Outline: • Challenges for agricultural biodiversity in Europe • Main funding instruments for agriculture and agri-environment • Outlook Gabala Expert-Worksho, 5-6 July 2010

3. 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) Gabala Expert-Worksho, 5-6 July 2010

4. 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: Biodiversity and preservation of natural farming systems, traditional agricultural landscapes Water management and use Climate change Gabala Expert-Worksho, 5-6 July 2010

5. 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 Gabala Expert-Worksho, 5-6 July 2010

6. 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) Gabala Expert-Worksho, 5-6 July 2010

7. 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. Gabala Expert-Worksho, 5-6 July 2010

8. 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 Gabala Expert-Worksho, 5-6 July 2010

9. Thank you for your attention! Nadja Kasperczyk IfLS – Institute for Rural Development Research Zeppelinstraße 31 60325 Frankfurt am Main Germany Telefon ++49 69 77 50 01 www.ifls.de Gabala Expert-Workshop, 5-6 July 2010 9