LIFE FA.RE.NA.IT (01/11/2011 – 31/10/2014)
Background
Agriculture is the starting point for many highly diverse ecosystems, and can contribute to the maintenance of species diversity and a large gene pool. Halting the loss of biodiversity cannot be done without the active commitment of farmers, the principal land managers in Europe. Italy is the EU country with the highest percentage of farmland in the Natura 2000 sites: approximately 30% of the total surface. Therefore, the network offers a unique opportunity to manage and monitor progress in the conservation of biodiversity within rural and farm areas. According to the Italian institute of agrarian economy, INEA, approximately 218 000 agricultural firms are located within the Natura 2000 network. Despite this, the European ecological network is still scarcely known and its benefits in terms of service to society and as a potential source of employment and income are not fully appreciated by farmers and public administrators in agricultural/rural areas. This represents a weakness to the future development of Natura 2000.
Project description
The overall project aim is to support the implementation of EU biodiversity policy and the 2020 target and strategy, by increasing awareness, understanding and support among stakeholders and people living and/or working in agricultural/rural areas of the Natura 2000 network as a means for their further involvement in biodiversity protection.
Specific project objectives are to:
- Raise awareness of Natura 2000 and its benefits among public administrators, farmers in Italian agricultural and rural areas.
- Offer opportunities for collaboration and harmonisation at national and regional levels of environmental and agricultural departments. Participation will be with the goal of promoting policy level integration for the development of the Natura 2000 network.
- Facilitate access to regional, national and EU funds aimed at sustainable development in Natura 2000 sites in agricultural and rural areas.
- Promote exchanges of experience and practices among public administrators, farmers and the people living and working in agricultural and rural areas within Natura 2000 sites.
This will be achieved through:
- Awareness raising and information campaign aimed at public administrators to increase the knowledge in terms of both legal obligations and potential benefits of the European ecological network. The action is also aimed at furnishing support to communication, through the distribution of a tool kit, with practical indications (a communication manual) and tools (i.e. radio spots, videos, edugame) which can be used to communicate with stakeholders. A special educational tour will be organised in order to facilitate knowledge and exchange of best practices.
- Awareness raising and information campaign aimed at farmers to increase knowledge of Natura 2000, its essential role in protecting biodiversity and the opportunities it offers to those who operate within European ecological network. This will be carried out in all Italy’s regions through a series of events that will involve also the general public and an educational tour organised for farmers.
- Awareness raising and information campaign aimed at schools in agricultural and rural districts to strengthen the relationship of young people with the territory they live in and to make them aware of the importance of nature and biodiversity. The campaign will include a didactic/educational program and a special award for adopting a Natura 2000 site.
- Capacity building activities mainly for public administrators and farmers, through a series of seminars and workshops at regional and local level, which will take place in all Italian regions, to increase stakeholders and target audience technical and cultural competences, in order to implement effective management of Natura 2000 sites. The activities will include a series of workshops aimed at training teachers.
Go to the project file in the European Commission database.
Partners
Centro Turistico Studentesco e giovanile (CTS)
Regione Lombardia
Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA)
Coldiretti
Comunità Ambiente