04 Nov 2020 Positions on CAP post-2020 adopted: What’s in it for biodiversity?

Many observers agree that the lack of ambition in the new CAP could jeopardise the EU’s Green Deal objectives and its main key pillars, namely the Farm to Fork and the EU Biodiversity Strategies.

When discussing the compatibility of the CAP post-2020 with the Green Deal last May, the European Commission (EC) clearly underlined that “the key provisions of the CAP proposals must be maintained in the negotiating process, and certain improvements and practical initiatives should be developed”.

Nevertheless, a first analysis of the EP and Council positions show that key habitats for biodiversity such as wetlands and permanent grassland will receive less protection compared to the EC’s original proposal. GAEC no.9, which was originally defined as the percentage of the agricultural area devoted to non-productive features, has been weakened and transformed into a percentage calculated on arable land only. Therefore, the percentage is no longer applicable to livestock farming, as proposed by the EC. This means that many farms will be exempted as applying this to arable land only, reducing the applicable area by 38%.

Regarding the precise percentage to be included under this controversial GAEC, several studies underlined the need for at least 10% of land devoted to non-productive features, to reverse biodiversity loss. Nevertheless, the EP and Council introduced a less ambitious percentage of 5%. Such a percentage is further reduced to 3% in the Council’s position, if Member States decide to include only non-productive features (hedgerows, buffer strips, etc.) and not catch crops and nitrogen fixing crops. Indeed, catch and nitrogen fixing crops are mentioned under GAEC no.9, as possible options – despite having no real benefits for biodiversity.

The definition of permanent grassland is also less ambitious than FACE was expecting. Member States will have discretion in deciding, if shrubs and trees are included in the definition of permanent grassland. The inclusion of these elements in the definition would have provided clarity to farmers and avoided unnecessary clearing of important ecological features across EU’s farmland. On a more positive note, FACE welcomes the definition of agricultural area provided by the European Parliament, which unequivocally includes non-productive features.

Commenting on the EP’s and Council’s position, FACE Secretary General, Dr. David Scallan underlines that: “The Commission will play a key role during the inter-institutional negotiations. Hopefully, it will support those elements, which are in line with the Biodiversity Strategy and try to minimize those elements that weaken the original proposal. Once the CAP post-2020 is adopted, the approach Member States take to shape their CAP Strategic Plans will be essential and will require active input from Europe’s national hunting associations to ensure that biodiversity measures work”.