LIFE: uniting nature lovers and farmers in a common cause

It’s an argument as old as the Common Agricultural Policy itself — how to reconcile the need to obtain decent revenues from farming with the need to protect and conserve nature? The European Networks for Private Land Conservation — LIFE ENPLC for short — believes it may have found the answer. 

‘The project brings conservationists and landowners together to work for private land conservation,’ explains LIFE ENPLC project coordinator Harm Schoten of Eurosite. ‘Despite a shared concern for nature, we were previously working separately. Now we are working together to protect and restore private land in Europe for nature and the climate.’ 

Among its achievements, the €1.7 million, four-year EU-funded project created a conservation landowners coalition with members in 9 EU countries, and was also campaigning strongly for the CAP to trigger more conservation funding. But, says Schoten, it’s not just about the money. ‘Landowners and farmers have various motivations to go beyond legal requirements in nature conservation. In addition to financial incentives, recognition from their peers can serve as a strong motivator to engage in land protection efforts.’ 

Through LIFE ENPLC, younger farmers are already embracing private land conservation. ‘I have worked all around the world, but I wanted to come back to the village and the natural woods inherited by our family,’ says Jacopo Bossi, who together with his brother and mother owns the Oasi Lignana estate in Tuscany, Italy. ‘I strongly believe that unspoilt nature adds value for visitors and local people. It’s not always easy to find partners who share our vision of sustainable development, but we will succeed.’ 

One landowner who certainly does share this vision is Chiara Ortolani, who runs the family farm La Malcontenta e il Luporural in Umbria. ‘After university I started managing our natural areas and our olive trees. It wasn’t easy, but over time I have managed to make significant improvements to the property. Our main missions are respecting ecosystems, wildlife and the quality of the organic products grown on the estate.’ 

Chiara, Jacopo and thousands of other European farmers who champion nature-friendly and organic farming know the secret lies in good quality soil. As this year’s World Soil Day puts it, caring for the soil means measuring, monitoring and managing it. As EU Soil Strategy for 2030’s latest factsheet explains, soil is ‘a vital natural resource, crucial to Europe’s ecosystems, agriculture, and economy. It is the foundation upon which food is grown, water is filtered, and biodiversity thrives.’ 

Since 2005, the LIFE Programme has financed 74 soil-related projects worth €183 million in the EU. You can find out more about how the LIFE contributes to soil protection, by downloading the soil factsheet.  

LIFE ENPLC, which closed in May 2024, supports a number of EU directives and strategies, including the directives on Water, Birds and Habitats, the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy and EU Law on Nature Restoration, as well as the EU Soil Health Strategy and proposed new soil monitoring law.