Since the last decades of the XX Century, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has supported multifunctional role of agricultural systems to contrast monoculture, promoting the adoption of more sustainable agricultural practices (Reg. 2078/1992) and the afforestation of arable lands (Reg. 2080/1992). During the following CAP reforms this strategy has continued to be promoted. Since the year 2000, according to the Council Regulation 1257/1999, forestry issues were included and supported by the Rural Development Programs (RDPs). The main objective of the aid scheme was to extend woodland areas with due regard to environmental impact. The following CAP programming period (2017-2013) was regulated by Reg. (EC) 1698/2005 aimed at promoting the sustainable use of forest land, the expansion of forest resources in agricultural or not agricultural land, the promotion of the combination of extensive agriculture and forestry systems. According to this Reg., in addition to the measure 214 (agri-environment payments) and the measures 221 and 223 (afforestation of agricultural and non-agricultural lands, respectively), a measure supporting the first establishment of agroforestry systems on arable lands was introduced (measure 222). Among EU27, few member states included the measure 222 within their Rural Development Programs (Pillar I) and the measure 222 was adopted by few European farmers. The reasons of this unsuccessful uptake were the lack of knowledge and information among stakeholders, the lack of funds to cover maintenance costs of the new agroforestry systems, the contrast with the Single Farm Payment (Pillar II). Since 2012, the European Agroforestry Federation (EURAF) has conducted a lobby action at the European Commission with the aim to improve the support to agroforestry systems in the CAP programming period (2014-2020) and the current CAP still supports forestry measures, including agroforestry systems, according to the Reg. (EC) 1305/2013. This paper aims to highlight the opportunities available to promote agroforestry within the CAP 2014-2020, focusing on cross-compliance, Pillar I and Pillar II, stressing the constraints that still hamper the conservation and the adoption of agroforestry systems in the European rural areas. Recommendations to improve future European policies to better supporting agroforestry are also suggested.
Opportunities and constraints for the adoption and maintenance of agroforestry systems in Europe within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Andrea Pisanelli;
2017-01-01
Abstract
Since the last decades of the XX Century, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has supported multifunctional role of agricultural systems to contrast monoculture, promoting the adoption of more sustainable agricultural practices (Reg. 2078/1992) and the afforestation of arable lands (Reg. 2080/1992). During the following CAP reforms this strategy has continued to be promoted. Since the year 2000, according to the Council Regulation 1257/1999, forestry issues were included and supported by the Rural Development Programs (RDPs). The main objective of the aid scheme was to extend woodland areas with due regard to environmental impact. The following CAP programming period (2017-2013) was regulated by Reg. (EC) 1698/2005 aimed at promoting the sustainable use of forest land, the expansion of forest resources in agricultural or not agricultural land, the promotion of the combination of extensive agriculture and forestry systems. According to this Reg., in addition to the measure 214 (agri-environment payments) and the measures 221 and 223 (afforestation of agricultural and non-agricultural lands, respectively), a measure supporting the first establishment of agroforestry systems on arable lands was introduced (measure 222). Among EU27, few member states included the measure 222 within their Rural Development Programs (Pillar I) and the measure 222 was adopted by few European farmers. The reasons of this unsuccessful uptake were the lack of knowledge and information among stakeholders, the lack of funds to cover maintenance costs of the new agroforestry systems, the contrast with the Single Farm Payment (Pillar II). Since 2012, the European Agroforestry Federation (EURAF) has conducted a lobby action at the European Commission with the aim to improve the support to agroforestry systems in the CAP programming period (2014-2020) and the current CAP still supports forestry measures, including agroforestry systems, according to the Reg. (EC) 1305/2013. This paper aims to highlight the opportunities available to promote agroforestry within the CAP 2014-2020, focusing on cross-compliance, Pillar I and Pillar II, stressing the constraints that still hamper the conservation and the adoption of agroforestry systems in the European rural areas. Recommendations to improve future European policies to better supporting agroforestry are also suggested.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
