LIFE projects combining livestock farming and biodiversity
- Innovation, knowledge exchange & EIP-AGRI
- Agricultural Productivity
- Fostering Knowledge & Innovation
- Research & Innovation
Multi-actor projects create good conditions to maintain and preserve the biodiversity while ensuring added value to the farmers
LIFE Coteaux Gascons, Livestock farming and biodiversity
Photo credits: Capucine BAILLOU
The project takes place in the Gascon hillsides – ‘les Coteaux Gascons’ in France. This area is located on an ecological corridor, allowing species to move between Spain and the rest of France and Europe, and so represents a biological area of European importance. The project was designed to meet the issues of interconnection between livestock farming and biodiversity, preservation of natural resources and rural landscape, adaptation to climate change and to the socio-economic context. To achieve this, the project promotes a set of measures to raise awareness and mobilise the actors of the Gascon Hills area and support them in the restoration and sustainable management of pastures, meadows and other environments linked to livestock farming. One of the important actions is also to promote and highlight the value of the area and the benefits of the "biodiversity - livestock" combination. This is a multi-actor project bringing together the stakeholders of the area, from stockbreeders who wish to improve their working conditions and the management of their grasslands, landowners wishing to achieve sustainable management of their land, representatives willing to highlight the value of their territory to all the curious citizens who live, work and enjoy this area.
GrassLIFE, Restoring EU priority grasslands and promoting their multiple use
Photo credits: Latvian Fund for Nature
This project aims to restore and improve EU priority grasslands and to promote their multiple use in Latvia. Through research, the project looks for new ideas on how to use the resources of grasslands in farming and business, which new products can be created and identifying the added value gained from biodiversity. Grassland and soil experts work closely with farmers developing a grassland restoration plan for each farm involved in the project, including restoration goals, indicators and a baseline for evaluation of restoration success. They have a number of videos to watch.
Other LIFE projects on biodiversity
Some further examples:
- LIFE BIORGEST project to improve the biodiversity of the Mediterranean forest through the integration of specific measures and innovative practices into forest planning and management instruments, and through new financing and compensation mechanisms.
- LIFE TransilvaCooperation Demonstrating a cooperative approach for good management of Natura 2000 grasslands at landscape scale in Transylvania and improving effectiveness of agri-environment measures, halting the loss of species and habitats of European importance.
- BurrenLIFE developed an evidence-based approach to manage species-rich grasslands, habitats and water quality as part of livestock systems in the Burren.
- LIFE IP ForEst&FarmLand to protect and restore Estonian landscapes and ecosystems and to improve the condition of the species and habitats in Estonian forests and agricultural lands.
Have you read the thematic newsletter on biodiversity (May 2023) from the EU CAP Network Support Facility for Innovation & Knowledge exchange including EIP-AGRI? Click here.