Title : Success of current measures to promote agro-forestry within the EU CAP
Abstract:
Scientific evidence, as well as policy institutions at EU level, recognise that agroforestry systems can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity enhancement, soil fertility and protection, and can provide opportunities for local rural economy. Therefore, agroforestry is relevant to various European policy targets and areas. In the EU, agroforestry is mainly supported by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Pillar II, i.e. Rural Development Programmes (RDPs).
The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the level of CAP support that agroforestry practices have received, and to understand whether CAP facilitated their adoption. This is relevant as the programming period 2014-2022 has come to an end. The study presented here is mainly focused on the Italian regions, however some comparisons with the other Mediterranean and some non-Mediterranean countries can be found throughout the paper.
Our analysis is based on a review of the main CAP legislation framework for Pillar I and Pillar II, together with the accompanying and transposed legislation, a review of the Monitoring and Evaluation reports, and of scientific literature collected through ISI WEB of Science, Google scholar and grey literature known on the authors. Also, interviews with the regional managing authorities were conducted in Italy to gather explanations for the adoption or not of policy options boosting agroforestry practices.
The analysis shows that differences amongst regions and countries do exist. The reasons for these are related both to the country contexts – e.g. cultural landscapes, agricultural structural characteristics – and the overall policy framework for the CAP – e.g. eligibility criteria for the direct payment scheme in relation to tree density, for the greening payment scheme, and the implementation of RDP measures. Some policy recommendations close our presentation.
What will audience learn from your presentation?
(Try to list 3-5 specific items)
- Effectiveness of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in relation to the promotion of agroforestry.
- If and how policies can affect the uptake of agroforestry.
- How to better promote agroforestry through the EU CAP.
