Seminar on the situation of wood pastures in the EP
Representatives of the civil and professional sector urged for the term wood pastures to be recognised and used in European directives. Experts say wood pastures are a way of using land that has been around for centuries and that they should be included in the rural development programme of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for their ecological, cultural and historical values.
The Pogány-havas Association (Romania) together with the European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism (EFNCP) and Birdlife Europe organised the event hosted by EPP MEPs Sógor Csaba (Transylvania), Clara Aguilera (Spain) and Catherine Bearder (United Kingdom). University lecturer at Sapientia University, Hartel Tibor spoke about the professional aspects of the issue from a Transylvanian perspective.
It was stated at the event, that wood pastures are a habitat and a way of using land that has been around for centuries in the Transylvanian traditional peasant culture, for example. Trees have played an important role in the agricultural activities of these local communities, directly (as a source of nutrients from their fruit, leaves or timber) and indirectly (providing shade to the grazing animals, and feeding the soil with their leaves).
RMDSZ MEP Csaba Sógor stated during the event: mountain meadows are among Europe's richest plant communities, and they need to be protected. He has urged European decision makers to clarify the situation of wood pastures: “Transylvanian people have learned to use the benefits provided by the CAP and to act in accordance with tits regulations. However, we think it is very important that European policy makers respect local environmental concerns. There is a need for clear European directives that recognise the term wood pastures in order to protect the balance of agro-ecosystems and in order for the EU aids to take centuries-old traditions into account.
