Common agricultural policy support to silvopasture in the European Atlantic region

Agroforestry practices are sustainable forms of land management recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the European Commission (EC). These organizations have established mechanisms to promote agroforestry globally. However, the policies they create often lack monitoring and thorough impact evaluation. To effectively analyze how policies promote agroforestry, it is crucial to consider the scale and context in which these practices are implemented. Policies should be tailored to specific socioeconomic and environmental contexts to ensure their relevance and effectiveness. The best practices that emerge can be applied to similar situations. The objective of this study was to analyze the current state of silvopasture in the Atlantic region of Europe and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) measures associated with the Rural Development Programs (RDPs). The goals are to enhance our understanding of how sustainable land use systems are promoted and to provide insights that can foster agroforestry across Europe. The Atlantic region is characterized by a significant intensification of agricultural activities, with a very low proportion of silvopasture, mostly in the Northern Atlantic regions. Agroforestry is recognized for its ability to provide ecosystem services that sequester carbon and enhance biodiversity and productivity in the Central Atlantic Region of Europe by promoting hedgerows or reducing forest fires in the Southern Atlantic regions. The CAP promotes agroforestry in some of these areas, primarily through agri-environmental measures. Political measures should prioritize the management, conservation, and implementation of silvopasture to increase sustainability across the European Union (EU). Efforts to promote silvopasture should be encouraged through both agroforestry eco-schemes and CAP Pillar II interventions.

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program (AF4EU with grant agreement number, 101086563, and FOREST4EU with grant agreement number, 101086216). Nuria Ferreiro-Domínguez was funded by the Pilot Program of the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) for the hiring of distinguished research staff—call 2021—funded by a collaboration agreement between USC and Banco Santander for the period of 2021–2024. Francisco Javier Rodríguez–Rigueiro was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Universities through the “Convocatoria de Recualificación del Sistema Universitario Español” on its “Margarita Salas” modality; the Ministry of Universities’ Recovery Transformation and Resilience Plan (funded by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU).

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