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Farmers could be rewarded with payments in the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) if they plant 1ha of forestry on their land, the European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has said.
He told a forestry conference in Brussels this week that the initiative could encourage member states to reach the environmental policy objectives of the next CAP.
Keynote speech
In his keynote speech at the conference, he said that farmers could be rewarded by such an initiative, under the condition that the afforestation is done in a biodiversity-friendly way, combining climate and environmental objectives.
It is another practical example of farmers providing public goods with public support
“This initiative can be programmed through pillar 2 funding under the CAP and could help member states to meet their climate and biodiversity objectives.
"It is another practical example of farmers providing public goods with public support.
“In order to limit the administrative burden for beneficiaries and public authorities, a lump-sum payment per year and per hectare could be offered to each participating farmer over the next seven-year period.
“The afforested plot could be either marginal land or in between big fields where biodiversity and diverse landscape elements would be needed.
Territorial distribution
“A widespread territorial distribution of the 1ha initiative could contribute to the creation of valuable ecosystem services, such as water retention, flood and soil erosion control.
"It would also provide significant biodiversity benefits, such as shelter and connectivity, and thereby could be very effective in delivering environmental and climate benefits,” he said.
Commissioner Hogan encouraged member states to take up this initiative.
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