ARE INNOVATIVE APPROACHES IMPORTANT TO SUSTAIN HIGH NATURE VALUE FARMING (HNVf) SYSTEMS? THE CASE STUDY OF THE SYLVO PASTORAL SYSTEM MONTADO IN PORTUGAL

Abstract

High Nature Value farmland (HNVf) can be defined as “those areas in Europe where agriculture is a major land use and where that agriculture supports or is associated with either a high species and habitat diversity or the presence of species of European conservation concern, or both”. HNV-Link is an H2020 project that ultimately aims at improving the socio-economic and environmental sustainability of HNVf across the European Union by promoting innovation. The project creates a community of practice and knowledge by linking 10 areas throughout the European Union where HNV farming systems are prevalent. These “learning areas” (LA) are used to evaluate innovation examples and gaps relevant to HNV farming systems. In this paper we use the Portuguese LA – the Silvo-pastoral system Montado located in “Sítio de Monfurado”´(SM) to illustrate the approach made in the project. Therefore we identify innovative solutions of technical, commercial, social, institutional, and policy nature that work and are relevant for HNVf. From this identification, we highlight gaps of innovation (the innovations that are needed but not yet implemented) and promote the exchange and uptake of innovative practices in support of HNVf. We concluded that in the Montado of SM, examples of innovation are not frequent and are mostly related to individual rather than collective initiatives. At present the main challenges identified for the Montado were related to: the low soil fertility; lack of new oak trees; undifferentiated products; resistance to multifunctionality; lack of investment on new management practices; dominant regime supporting productivism and specialization in farming. The way forward within the framework of the project was the exchange of innovation approaches existing in other areas within the project. The co-construction of results based agri-environmental schemes in the Burren LA located in Ireland, was elected as an inspiring example for supporting the improvement of the economic and environmental sustainability of the Montado as an HNVf system.