Meeting with journalists, presenting them the importance of high nature value farming for biodiversity conservation in the Western Balkans

A meeting of Bulgarian and German journalists with farmers from the Western Stara Planina region will be held on May 31 and June 1, 2022. The meeting is organized by the Euronatur Foundation, Society for territorial and environmental prosperity (STEP) and the Fund for Wild Flora and Fauna FWFF. The main goal of the meeting is the journalists to get acquainted with the importance of high nature value (HNV) farming for biodiversity conservation in the Western Balkans and the need for its support within the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

The event will include a meeting with representatives of the Vratsa Balkan Nature Park, followed by visits to farmers in the area of Gintsi and Godech and discussion about the socio-economic challenges they face on a daily basis.

According to a STEP study, in 2019 the eligible of high nature value farming lands decreased by 39% compared to those determined in 2007. The most significant loss of more than 50% is observed in permanently grassed areas with HNV, which decrease by more than 0.5 million ha. About 100,000 ha is the loss of mixed agricultural systems with HNV.

Therefore, it is necessary to include in the national strategic documents and especially in the CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027 targeted measures to achieve concrete results for nature protection and biodiversity, which should reflect the specifics of high nature value farming systems in a specific area. Involving a wide range of stakeholders at all levels and discussing their proposals is key to developing and implementing successful biodiversity conservation schemes.

You can find the program of the meeting here.