EU CAP NETWORK - Benefits of HDLFs for on-farm adaption to climate change

Summary in the original language of the document

The Biodiversity Strategy 2030 objectives include a target for 10% of agricultural land to incorporate landscape features or non-productive areas (European Commission, 2020). In practise and under the proposed Nature Restoration Law (Directorate-General for Environment, 2022), that is currently in the process of political negotiation, these features are divided into four groups (woody, stony, grassy, and wet features), and among others include buffer strips, rotational or non-rotational fallow land, hedgerows, individual or groups of trees, tree rows, field margins, patches, ditches, streams, small wetlands, terraces, cairns, stonewalls, small ponds, and cultural features. Many of these features are perennial and are positioned in the agricultural landscape for longer periods. The longevity of features raises a question of their flexibility, adaptability, and long-term functionality in the scope of changing environments and climate changes. Woody features in agricultural landscapes have often been out of the interest of farmers and foresters in the past but better collaboration between the agriculture and forestry sectors is required. HDLFs are a typical example of joint knowledge and action that can mitigate climate change and provide other benefits.