 Luigi Boccaccio
SEO/BirdLife and WWF Spain have launched their joint vision for a sustainable land management
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SEO/BirdLife and WWF Spain launch a joint vision for sustainable land management
30-03-2009
On 30 March 2009 SEO/BirdLife (BirdLife in Spain) and WWF Spain organized a high level conference to discuss the future of EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) from the Spanish perspective. In a new joint vision both organizations are proposing profound changes to the current CAP on the principle of "public money for public goods”.
In the face of the climate and energy crisis, with Spain particularly affected for example by looming water shortage, promoting a sustainable and healthy agriculture must be made a priority. The organizations also called for greater transparency in the use of public funds and for a participatory approach to decision making, whereby stakeholders, including environmental NGOs can contribute to the elaboration of viable policy solutions.
SEO/BirdLife and WWF Spain argue that, by following the agricultural intensification model imported from northern Europe, the present CAP in Spain – even after the so called 'Health Check' undertaken by the EU in 2008 – fails to support adequately the extensive and lower impact forms of agriculture needed to safeguard Spain´s unique and precious landscapes, wildlife and ecosystems services.
A radical redirection of funding is needed, from commodity-based single farm payments towards rewarding farmers adequately for practices which safeguard the water environment, conserve biodiversity, maintain rich landscapes, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create the environment needed to attract inward investment, diversify the rural economy and stem depopulation.
SEO/BirdLife and WWF believe that farmers, foresters, environmental organizations, consumer groups, scientists and generally all stakeholders should be involved and collaborate to ensure the future of the European rural environment and conserve natural resources and their values.
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Credits: SEO/BirdLife (BirdLife in Spain)