Agro-pastoral/outdoor livestock systems and wildlife management

ExpectedOutcome:

In line with the objectives of the farm to fork strategy for a transition to fair, healthy and environmentally friendly livestock production systems, and of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, including the conservation status of certain habitats and species, the successful proposal will help policy makers and other actors to monitor and improve the management of farming and terrestrial wildlife relationships, thus contributing to sustainable agriculture and ecosystem services.

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:

• Innovative and sustainable practices and tools at landscape level to prevent and control negative consequences of interactions between livestock and wild animals to protect wildlife and pastoral/outdoor production systems
• Recommendations/policy advice on optimal management at EU level of wildlife and agro-pastoral systems
• Decision-making process on wildlife management and land planning participated by relevant stakeholders
• Improved coordination across Europe in terms of wildlife management, surveillance and data collection systems

Scope:

Agro-pastoral/outdoor livestock farming systems, which include a large number traditional activities in Europe such as grazing systems, mountain livestock farming, transhumance, silvo-pastoral and agroforestry systems, offer beneficial effects not only to animal production, e.g., in case of scarce fodder resources, or to animal welfare, but also to habitat maintenance, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation and soil protection.

The increased demand for natural resources by human population with the consequent fragmentation of wildlife habitat, together with the increased population of wild animals and the change in land use have often resulted in human-wildlife conflicts. The interactions between livestock farmers and wildlife are more frequent and cause damages to both sides with conflicts in the management of farming systems and natural resources.

Wildlife population, which is worth protecting, occupies wide geographic area and extend across administrative borders, and public administrations face difficulties with regards to the reduction of the impact of wildlife on livestock farming. The implementation of a common and integrated approach at EU level is required to optimize the management of the co-existence of terrestrial wildlife (large carnivores, ungulates) and agro-pastoral/outdoor livestock systems at landscape level.

The following elements should be incorporated:

• Review of current wildlife management approaches in agro-pastoral/outdoor production systems in the different EU Member States and Associated Countries and assessment of the effectiveness of different prevention measures
• Map the most common types of damages caused and the positive externalities created by wild animals with respect to livestock and crops in Europe. Create an inventory of good practices and infrastructures at farms and regional levels, within a wider wildlife management approach.
• Improve or develop tools/technologies for (real time) data collection and analysis to assess, monitor and control (wild) animal behaviour and damages
• Cost/benefit analysis of current and new farming strategies that preserve, protect and valorise wildlife and pastoralism in different regions and ecosystems. Socio-economic, environmental, cultural and political aspects should be considered.
• Assess stakeholders’ (farmers, hunters, conservationists, general public, policy makers…) perspectives and needs (participatory approach) and improve or develop effective instruments to reduce conflicts between livestock farming and wildlife. Identify the most effective measures to mitigate damages and the most common (monetary, non-monetary) compensation mechanisms across Europe.

The proposal should take into account projects funded under the LIFE programme, and interact and engage a dialogue with relevant EU organizations such as EU Platform on Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores^[1].

Proposals must implement the 'multi-actor approach’ and ensure adequate involvement of the main stakeholders involved in managing wildlife/livestock interaction (e.g., farmers, hunters, game farmers and producers, agricultural advisory services, land managers, ecology and nature conservation experts, animal behaviour scientists, social scientists and other relevant actors).

This topic should involve the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines.

[1]https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/carnivores/coexistence_platform.htm