• The European Union's LIFE programme promotes the manifesto "More Extensive Livestock Farming, More Biodiversity for Europe"
• Spain is among the member countries
• The manifesto proposes ten support measures to ensure that this production system continues to provide benefits not only to biodiversity, but also to the development of rural areas.

Four European countries sign a manifesto in favor of extensive livestock farming

The wildfires that occurred last summer in Spain raised the possibility of controlling vegetation in forests and rural areas through livestock. New climate contingencies have shown that traditional livestock farming improves soil fertility and prevents erosion, thus contributing to mitigating climate change.

For all these reasons, the LIFE LiveAdapt project , within the framework of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the European LIFE Programme , has brought together ten European projects working on the development and promotion of extensive livestock farming in the Mediterranean to launch the manifesto "More Extensive Livestock Farming, More Biodiversity for Europe" .

Specifically, the participating projects belong to Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece and are: LIFE LiveAdapt , LIFE Montado Adapt , LIFE Cañadas , LIFE Desert Adapt , LIFE Regenerate , LIFE AgriAdapt , LIFE Scrubsnet , LIFE Landscape Fire Project , LIFE Maronesa and LIFE IP NAdapta-CC .

Manifest

The series of measures proposed by these four countries is aimed at:

• Forest fire prevention
• Mitigation and adaptation to climate change
• The fight against depopulation

Thus, the document presents the five main reasons for promoting extensive livestock farming in Europe and proposes ten measures to support this production system so that it continues to provide benefits to biodiversity, the resilience of territories, and the local communities that depend on it.

A) Benefits of extensive livestock farming:

1. Maintains and increases biological and landscape diversity .
2. Improves food security and sovereignty .
3. It offers diverse and relevant ecosystem services .
4. Improves animal welfare .
5. It is a fundamental tool for adaptation and mitigation to climate change .

B) Support measures

1. Recognition and appreciation of the environmental services generated by extensive livestock farming : financial compensation for the services provided, both by society and by public and community organizations, which will determine its profitability.
2. Implementation of public policies to support grazing : reducing bureaucracy and adapting public policies to the specific needs of extensive livestock farming.
3. Technical support for producers: improved training and information.
4. Recognition of the profession of shepherds: dignifying the trade preserves the profession.
5. Valorizing extensive production systems and improving value chains: raising awareness about the differential value of extensive livestock farming compared to other forms of animal production.
6. Education and awareness about product consumption: both for their environmental and social benefits and for their improved nutritional characteristics.
7. Support for transhumance: both for its cultural values and its potential for adaptation to climate change.
8. Promote shared knowledge, research

scientific and training of the livestock sector: equal investment in innovation and knowledge transfer within the sector.

9. Multi-agent participation: fostering multidisciplinary networks within the sector.

10. Territorial management: Incorporate extensive livestock farming into territorial planning and management tools, including Protected Natural Areas, the Natura 2000 Network, and fire prevention.

The manifesto "More Extensive Livestock Farming, More Biodiversity for Europe" can be consulted here .