1. Global strategies
  2. Providing incentives to farmers for biodiversity conservation

Providing incentives to farmers for biodiversity conservation

  • Promoting biological resource conservation with financial incentives to agriculture

Description

In-situ conservation of local species, varieties and domestic animal breeds requires an adequate system of economic and social incentives, combined with increased consumers awareness.

Context

The factors behind the decline of biodiversity can be understood by considering the incentives and disincentives facing a country or an individual farmer with regard to sustainable use of genetic resources.

The European Biodiversity Strategy states that "biodiversity concerns will be integrated in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform process announced in Agenda 2000". The strategy stresses the need "to encourage the ecological function of rural areas", "to integrate biodiversity objectives into the relevant instruments of the CAP" and "to promote farming methods enhancing biodiversity, by linking agricultural support to environmental conditions where appropriate".

Implementation

The reformed Swiss agricultural policy contributes to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use by providing direct payments to farmers that apply biodiversity-sound management practices. The Swiss Foundation for the Conservation of Cultural Landscapes, financed by federal, cantonal, communal and private donations also supports specific nature and landscape conservation projects.

The cirl bunting Emberiza cirlus was threatened with extinction in the UK because of a decrease in suitable habitat. The Countryside Stewardship Scheme paid farmers to retain cereal stubble and to establish grass margins around arable fields, which resulted in a marked recovery of the species. Similarly, skylarks Alauda arvensis favour the edge of a field rather than crops, which suggests that agri-environment schemes could be designed to support this species. Other UK schemes have been successful in retaining habitat that might have otherwise been destroyed, such as wet grassland that could have been ploughed for cereal production.

Broader

Narrower

Facilitates

Facilitated by

Problem

Value

Incentives
Yet to rate
Conservative
Yet to rate
Conservation
Yet to rate

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #2: Zero HungerSustainable Development Goal #15: Life on Land

Metadata

Database
Global strategies
Type
(E) Emanations of other strategies
Subject
  • Resources » Resources
  • Biosciences » Biology
  • Social activity » Employment conditions » Employment conditions
  • Communication » Promotion
  • Commerce » Finance
  • Agriculture, fisheries » Agriculture
  • Agriculture, fisheries » Farming
  • Conservation » Conservation
  • Content quality
    Presentable
     Presentable
    Language
    English
    Last update
    Nov 18, 2022