The landscape of agriculture. sPlanning and regulation of agricultural landscapes in the European community

Abstract

The Danish landscape and most central European landscapes, are agricultural landscapes. They developed and they still change almost exclusively according to the conditions of agriculture. Despite the traditional resistance from farming organisations, governments have begun to impose regulations on farming practice to maintain environmental qualities. A survey of the existing and forthcoming environmental regulation of agriculture in four European countries has been carried out to discuss this regulation in relation to the possibilities of integrated landscape management of agricultural land. An analysis of the different measures showed that regulation is definitely increasing in all countries, but that it does not favour a coherent landscape management. Regulation appears to be implemented by top-down administration, generating a growing bureaucracy, and considerable amounts are spent, often with low goal-achievement. Finally it can be seen that landuse planning is a prerequisite to several regulation procedures. Based on these findings, a proposal is made for an integrated planning process on agricultural lands. The main focus should be on the collaboration with local farming societies and on the local implementation of general environmental requirements.