- 35 European countries – experiences and perspectives

IES scientist Maria Luisa Paracchini has co-authored a new, beautifully presented, full colour book on High Nature Value (HNV) Farming in Europe that has been published by Verlag Regionalkultur. Planned and edited by Oppermann, Beaufoy and Jones, this book is the first of its kind that comprehensively presents and illustrates HNV farming across Europe. It gives an overview of the current state of affairs, highlights the potential threats and points out opportunities for the future that could help conserve the cultural and natural heritage of Europe.

Different chapters were written by contributors from all over Europe, including one for each of 35 European countries, with an overview provided by Maria Luisa on the basis of land cover and biodiversity data. The book also includes thematic chapters that address a range of issues relating to farming, nature, economy and policy. Maria Luisa co-authored many chapters of the book, including ‘HNV farming – central to European cultural landscapes and biodiversity’, ‘European overview of HNV farmland types’, ‘Public goods and ecosystem services delivered by HNV farmland’, and ‘The place of HNV farmland in EU-level indicators for the rural-agrarian landscape’.

Source: M. L. Paracchini

HNV farmlands are the result of centuries of agricultural cultivation that fostered biodiversity by creating particular habitats in which different varieties of species could thrive. Such extensive farming practices help conserve wildlife and provide a multitude of other services for society, including ecosystem services and much of the rich social fabric and character of Europe’s landscapes. Intensive farming and, at the other extreme, land abandonment, are the main threats to such biodiversity. This book, which was co-financed by the European Commission, aims to raise awareness of such issues, and to encourage the use of farming practices that preserve valuable farm ecosystems, habitats and biodiversity.

The book will be launched at the 'HNV Farming in Europe – Experiences and Perspectives' event in Brussels on 12^th July 2012.

See: Oppermann R., Beaufoy G. and Jones G (eds.) (2012): High Nature Value Farming in Europe. ©Verlag regionalkultur. ISBN 978-3-89735-657-3