The EU will get closer to achieving its ambitions on biodiversity if it works in partnership with farmers and harnesses their natural enthusiasm, NFU President Peter Kendall will tell delegates at Green Week this morning.
Mr Kendall, who is also vice-president of the European farmers’ organisation COPA, will speak in Brussels at the largest annual conference on European environment policy.
“European farmers and growers are wholly committed to protecting the countryside and habitats while remaining profitable and productive,” he said.
“The EU has failed to reach the targets it set itself for ‘halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010’ for various reasons. Farmers and land managers have taken their role very seriously, however. Major improvements have already been made to better integrate biodiversity into the CAP. For the past 20 years we have participated in voluntary agri-environment schemes, in a bid to protect and enhance habitats, while also maintaining and improving conditions for farmland wildlife.
“It is vital that everyone works together and this includes the commission, member states, scientists, NGOs and interest groups – all of whom need to do more to deliver biodiversity goals.”
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