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Maintenance of agrarian landcapes
Published on 05 November 2020
Spain
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The loss of agriculture in mountain areas is an environmental and socio-economic problem. There is a lack of incentives for the farmer which leads to intensification or more often, abandonment of agricultural lands of high natural value areas (EU, 2011). The maintenance of agriculture in these areas is therefore extremely important from the perspective of biodiversity, landscape and cultural heritage. One of the strongest threats to the biodiversity in Galicia are forest fires. However in those areas which the model of the traditional agrarian mosaic exist is observed a much greater resilience against the onslaught of fire. Habitat preservation actions by clearing the invading bush, improvement of the agrarian landscape such as the maintenance of fences, riparian vegetation and traditional walls, creation of routes and recreational areas. Wetland restoration and removal of exotic species.
Expert opinion
The next generation of EU funds and the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will support sustainable agricultural practices designed to maintain ecosystem services in mountain areas, to the benefit of nature and society as a whole. This good practice, which led to measurable results on wildfire prevention, demonstrates the fundamental role that farmers can play to combat biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Regional policymakers should get inspired by these results and start planning how to use resources from the European agricultural fund for rural development (EAFRD) in the next programming period with the view to strengthening biodiversity- and climate-friendly agricultural models.
Resources needed
Around 100.000 euros per year are included in the budgets of the Regional Ministry of Environment and Rural Affairs.
Evidence of success
In the forest district Fonsagrada - os Ancares (in which pilot area of BioGov is included) where is going to be applied this good practice the number of forest fire during the period 2015 - 2019 has decreased 29%, the surface burnt 92% and the number of forest fires per square kilometer 29%.
Potential for learning or transfer
The main actors are farmers supported by public measures and the beneficiaries are the farmers themselves and society in general due the ecosystem services that these mountain areas are offering like landscape, biodiversity, quality products and good air and water quality.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Regional Government of Galicia
Spain
Galicia