Extensive Land Use Systemsandtheir Significancefor Safeguarding European Cultural and Ecological Heritageinthe Prospectofthe 2014 EU Cap Reform

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that agricultural ecosystems of high ecological value (also called HNV- high nature value farmland) form a central pillar of European biodiversity and also contribute significantly to desirable ecosystem services. There are legal targets set as e.g. the commitments of the CBD agreement, the EU biodiversity strategy and, most important, in the EU Habitats directive. The maintenance of species-rich grassland and other such agricultural ecosystems is of vital importance for the accomplishment of mandatory conservation and biodiversity objectives. As well as all negative impacts on the extent of these habitats they also affect their ecological quality and have major policy consequences.The current status of decision-making on the new CAP as well as the discussion of consequences for the ecological heritage ofour cultural landscapes is presented.