We investigate why we lose grasslands year after year
Small-scale farmers in Romania administer grasslands, some of which are considered High Nature Value (HNV) farmlands. Statistics, however, show that they can hardly cope with the economic pressures, and they need governmental support to maintain grasslands in a favorable state of conservation.
In our project, we aimed to conduct a sociological research (through interviews and questionnaires) to assess the causes that lead to the loss and deterioration of grasslands.
In May 2021, we started interviewing the stakeholders who use and/or administer grasslands: farmers, beekeepers, landowners, local authorities, as well as the governmental agency managing the agricultural subsidies in Romania. We carried out our study in the counties of Arad, Bihor, Cluj, Covasna, Mureș, Satu Mare and Timiș, and we have recorded 29 interviews so far.
The collected data will showcase the current situation (property system, practice usage, subsidies, difficulties, best-case practices), and will also provide a forecast for the next five years.
The next stages of the sociological study include: data analysis, devising a questionnaire on the causes of grassland conversion, and its application to 1,000 people, followed by the assessment results.
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With pastures and meadows occupying 22.9% of its land cover, Romania is one of the richest grassland countries in the EU. As per the data provided by the National Statistics Institute (NSI), between 2007-2014, 33,064 ha of grassland disappeared all across Romania. Conservation of grasslands is important for both biodiversity preservation and the communities that use them and depend on these ecosystems for sustenance.
More grasslands, more yields!
Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe