The Common Agricultural Policy and Rural Development

Farming is the single most important human activity that for centuries has been creating habitats where most of European wildlife lives. From lowland arable and grassland, rice fields, hill pastures, alpine meadows, hedges, ditches, wetlands, there is an endless list of semi natural habitats that exists thanks to farming; farmed habitats cover more than half of the European territory and are home to the richest variety of wild species, including hundreds of bird species.

Farmland birds use farmed habitats to nest and feed themselves and their chicks, as crops provide seeds and host a variety of insects, invertebrates and small mammals.

In the last 30 years farmland birds have declined dramatically in abundance; many species are locally extinct. This decline mirrors the dramatic changes in farming practices that are now heavily mechanised and make a heavy use of pesticides and fertilisers. Crop improvement and specialisation, elimination of marginal habitats, wrong stock densities are all responsible for wildlife decline.

In farmland in Central and Eastern Europe, the new European Union countries and beyond, species such as the White Stork Ciconia ciconia, Corncrake Crex crex, Great Bustard Otis tarda and Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio, are still common. These species have almost disappeared from northwest Europe.

A study on policy and birds by BirdLife International has demonstrated that farming methods in these countries have helped to conserve many of the birds the older EU Member States have lost. With ten of these countries joining the EU and becoming subject to the CAP in 2004, Europe risks losing invaluable biodiversity in these countries too.

Maintaining the ecological quality of farmland is the main conservation priority for many species.

The role of agricultural policies in bird decline

Agricultural practices in the EU are regulated by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The CAP is funded by taxpayers’ money and spends half of the EU total budget to support farmers’ activities. However, for many years the CAP has encouraged intensive farming through a system of subsidies that has led to degradation of farming habitats. Although the subsidy system is undergoing reform, many areas of intensification related to EU subsidies still exist.

BirdLife argues that public money spent for agriculture should only be given to farmers and land managers that, in return for this huge public support, are prepared to respect the environment, pollute less, produce healthy food and protect landscape and wildlife.

BirdLife International works to influence policy making that favours the sustainable development of rural economies, the protection of the natural environment and its wildlife. We argue that more radical reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy are needed to halt the decline of farmland species and the decline in services and quality of life in rural areas.

FARMING FOR LIFE – BirdLife International’s campaign on agriculture

Revisions to the CAP have been made since 1990, in which the EU has recognised some of the problems but not yet solidified policies to really reverse the declines.

BirdLife International is campaigning since 2002 for a better future for the European countryside. The BirdLife International campaign is called Farming for Life.

A more recent and radical agricultural policy reform began in 2003 but BirdLife is pressing for even more drastic changes.

In particular, BirdLife wants to see:

• More cash to be ring-fenced for farmers managing land in a way that encourages wildlife.
• Funds also to be put aside for sites of particular value to wildlife, notably those designated as Natura 2000 sites – some of the best sites for wildlife in Europe.
• Minimum standards to be set for farming, covering habitat protection, water pollution and the designation of important wildlife sites, such as Natura 2000.
• Measures to discourage farming methods that destroy wildlife habitats, devalue landscapes and with it, the enjoyment of the countryside.
• Help for farmers seeking advice on environmentally friendly management.

Critically, BirdLife International wants to see economic prosperity in rural areas coupled with environmental protection if the serious declines of many European birds are to be stopped.

BirdLife is also warning that taxpayers will increasingly question the value for money from agriculture subsidies, if payments are not used to support farmers looking after wildlife, the environment, water quality and landscapes. Despite the 2003 reforms, the majority of payments still go to the most intensive producers.

The Farming for Life campaign hosts a wide range of events and activities to promote the message that farming, wildlife and rural communities really can have a better future together.

Publications and Links

• Rethinking the CAP (PDF, 63 KB)
• Rural Development strategic guidelines (PDF, 196 KB)
• Vision for Rural Europe (PDF, 1 MB)
• Ten reasons to save rural development (Pillar II of the CAP) from cuts (PDF, 177 KB)
• Bioenergy - fuel for the future? (PDF, 218 KB)
• Evaluating the Contribution to Biodiversity Conservation of National Rural Development Programmes (PDF, 300 KB)