Conservarea biodiversităţii şi dezvoltare comunitară în Transilvania
International Conference: High Nature Value grasslands – securing the vital ecosystem services of European farming.
Fundatia ADEPT, European Forum for Nature Conservation and Pastoralism (EFNCP) and University Lucian Blaga Sibiu will be holding a conference at Sibiu, Romania, 7-9 September 2010. This conference will address the concept of High Nature Value Farmland and Landscapes, and their importance for biodiversity conservation and broader ecosystem services in Europe.2010, the focus of EU's target to halt the loss of biodiversity in Europe, is an appropriate date at which to take stock. Is the biodiversity importance of HNV Farmed landscapes fully appreciated by policy makers? How effective have our policies been in conserving biodiversity in EU member states? How should policies and practice evolve to improve our ability to meet biodiversity conservation targets?
This conference will be held in the historic city of Sibiu, the 2007 European city of culture and home of Samuel von Brukenthal, the renowned 18th century patron of the arts and sciences. There will be planned excursions to some of the most biodiverse farmed lowland landscapes remaining in Europe - rich in wildflowers, birds, butterflies and large mammals including bears and wolves. Further details will be announced.
For further details see conference page on EFNCP website (www.efncp.org).
This conference will be held in the historic city of Sibiu, the 2007 European city of culture and home of Samuel von Brukenthal, the renowned 18th century patron of the arts and sciences. There will be planned excursions to some of the most biodiverse farmed lowland landscapes remaining in Europe - rich in wildflowers, birds, butterflies and large mammals including bears and wolves. Further details will be announced.
For further details see conference page on EFNCP website (www.efncp.org).
Date: Tuesday 7th to Thursday 9th September 2010
Location: University Lucian Blaga, Sibiu
Introduction:
The conference will communicate the vital role of HNV farming systems in biodiversity conservation and in a wide range of ecosystem services; carbon sequestration, fire and flood resistance, water quality and security, food quality and security, cultural heritage, quality of life, recreation. HNV farmed landscapes are dominated by semi-natural grasslands, and small scale traditional management. These farming systems can no longer be seen as the poor relation of competitive, intensive farming: they are of global importance, because of the range of ecosystem services they deliver.
Both the grasslands and the farming systems that use them are under threat. This conference will propose improved EU strategies for maintaining them. CAP reform 2010-13 is a major opportunity for re-targeting CAP resources, so that they help secure the future of these HNV grasslands and the ecosystem services they deliver.
Topics:
HNV grasslands - what they provide
- HNV grasslands and biodiversity. Semi-natural pastures and meadows (“HNV grasslands”) are central to the ecosystem services of European farming, and at the same time represent a major part of European biodiversity. The EU’s 2010 Biodiversity Target has not been met. Renewed efforts are needed across the EU. Maintenance of HNV grasslands should be a priority target from 2010.
- HNV grasslands and ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are becoming a dominant theme in policy debates. The place of HNV grasslands within ecosystem services needs to be clarified and flagged up – landscape, water-catchment functions, quality food production on land with limited economic options. Also cultural values. It is the whole farming and social system that delivers the ecosystem services, and that therefore needs to be maintained.
- HNV grasslands and climate change has become a leading environmental concern and has many potential implications for HNV grasslands. The positive services of HNV grasslands need to be explained and quantified, e.g. carbon storage, fire resistance in dry areas, large-scale habitats to allow species to adapt to climate change. Conversely, the policy response to climate change can threaten HNV grasslands, for example change of land use for biocropping or intensive biomass.
HNV grasslands - what they need
- The socio-economy of HNV farming systems. Low-intensity HNV livestock farming links food quality, culture and nature. The conference will describe the socio-economic situation of HNV farming systems and farming communities, with data and case studies from around EU.
- The need for local initiatives. Key policy lessons from ADEPT project and other local projects. Conference will highlight a small number of common challenges and things that need to be done at local level to make policies more effective.
- Common Agricultural Policy reform. What can the CAP do to address HNV challenges across EU? CAP reform 2010-13 is a major opportunity; may be the last chance to secure a sustainable future for HNV grasslands through an EU strategy with a sufficiently resourced package of measures for supporting the farming systems that maintain HNV grasslands. Policy discussion of need for greater encouragement for local projects in addition to basic HNV support payments.
21.06.2010
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Prince of Wales visit to Saschiz on 23 May 2009
In 2008 and 2009, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales visited the village of Saschiz, in south-east Transylvania, to meet local producers. In 2009 he opened a model food processing unit.
Known as a “food barn”, this simple conversion of a farm courtyard barn will enable small-scale producers in the area to sell their traditional recipes more widely, while meeting the safety and hygiene regulations set out by the EU.
Funded by Fundatia ADEPT and working closely with the local community of Saschiz, the food barn is a first of its kind and has been given official approval by the National Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) to be used in the production of local products for retail sales in Romania and abroad. The flexible set-up of the food barn welcomes both individual and group producers for a variety of products.
The food barn is the result of the combined wish of local communities, the Romanian Government and the European Commission to preserve local and traditional foods, providing an economic future to the small-scale farming communities that make them and thus protecting the landscape in which they live. Fundatia ADEPT hopes that other communities will be encouraged to replicate this model.
After unveiling a plaque to commemorate the event, His Royal Highness emphasised the need to ensure the survival of Romania’s remarkable rural culture and civilization, drawing reference to how Transylvania combines an extremely rich wildlife with natural and high quality food made by local producers. The Prince of Wales stressed the importance to value and protect these low-energy agricultural systems as they are a practical response to the global economic and environmental crisis.
View film of speech given by HRH The Prince of Wales at Saschiz.
