MEDIDAS AGRO-AMBIENTAIS BASEADAS EM RESULTADOS: CONCILIAR A PRODUÇÃO COM A CONSERVAÇÃO EM SISTEMAS DE PASTOREIO EM ÁREAS DE ELEVADO VALOR NATURAL

Abstract

To combine efficient livestock farming with environmental conservation is nowadays an important societal challenge in face of the increased generalised loss of biodiversity. The extensive grazing systems frequently associate with High Nature Value farming areas are central to biodiversity management, particularly in Europe. In order to reverse this trend in biodiversity loss new solutions are needed. The resultbased agri-environmental payments foreseen in the coming CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) opens new possibilities for the much required adaptive management at the farm level. Still it represents a change in paradigm in relation to the agri-environmental schemes known so far in the Southern European context. We present an innovative process of co-construction of a proposal for a result-based scheme for the Montado, involving farmers, public officers and researchers in the different steps of development of the scheme. We also present the structure and details of the proposal under construction. The proposal aims for application as a pilot case, at a local scale, in a Natura 2000 site and its surroundings, in Alentejo. The approach followed is inspired by the “Burren farming for conservation program” applied with success for more than 20 years, in The Burren, Ireland. The on-going co-construction process for the result-based scheme for the Montado has been developed under HNV-Link, an H2020 on “High Nature Value Farming: Learning, Innovation and Knowledge”.