Merging agriculture & environment in Greece
Agricultural production, when managed with environmental sensitivity can be a powerful force in restoring natural ecosystems. Our RIWET partners in Greece are using this potential to raise the awareness of farmers and public services and highlight the values of wetlands and wetland protection for agricultural landscapes and culture.
By blending farming practices with environmental management, agricultural lands can become a part of the solution for climate change adaptation and carbon sequestration, improving biodiversity while also protecting river and wetlands.
The Greek network
In Greece, a great example of collaboration is taking shape between The Goulandris Natural History Museum - Greek Biotope Wetland Centre and the Management Authority of the Greek Strategic Plan of CAP 2023-2027, as part of the RIWET INTERREG Europe project. They’re working on the new Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition 2 (GAEC 2) of the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan, which aims to protect wetlands and peatlands on farmland as carbon sinks. Together they are exploring ideas that benefit both food production and natural ecosystems.
On March 19, researchers from various agricultural institutes and universities met to discuss practical ways to blend farming with environmental care. The meeting, attended by 22 experts including representatives from the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food, was an important initial step in building a network of experts and stakeholders committed to protecting these valuable ecosystems.
Connecting ideas & actions
By connecting each other and sharing best practices, our Greek partners want to inform and raise awareness on the protection of wetlands in agriculture as well as to stimulate discussions on the challenges faced in terms of policy, governance and practice.
Combining agriculture with river, wetland and peatland protection/restoration offers a promising path forward for the protection of our natural resources while also building resilient communities for the future. Future gatherings are planned to include even more farmers, NGOs, and local stakeholders to discuss both the benefits and challenges
We'll keep you posted on project progress!
With thanks to Anastasia Chatzimentor