The aim of the PASTONATUR project is to conserve and restore biodiversity and mitigate climate change in agroforestry systems within protected areas in the rural regions of the SUDOE, specifically in the regions of Alentejo, Andalusia, Castile and León, Extremadura, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie.
To this end, it works with extensive livestock farming from two complementary perspectives:
1) Making it more sustainable by promoting regenerative management practices and methods that enhance biodiversity, increase carbon sequestration, promote animal welfare and contribute to the conservation of traditional agroforestry ecosystems.
2) Making it more competitive and profitable by promoting its products and supporting its businesses to ensure their continuity and their contribution to the dynamic conservation of protected areas.
Sustainable extensive livestock farming is seen as a driver of endogenous socio-economic development in protected rural areas. The project will define a joint transnational strategy and an action plan aimed at the dynamic conservation of protected areas linked to extensive livestock farming. Subsequently, pilot demonstration activities will be developed to test joint solutions in areas such as: the evaluation and characterisation of regenerative management measures on extensive livestock farms for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation; the differentiated promotion of extensive livestock products; the promotion of short supply chains and networking; and the promotion of products through gastronomy.
Finally, the transnational strategy and action plan will be validated and transferred to the sector and the relevant bodies for adoption. The project benefits the entire value chain of the sector and takes a systemic approach to the main challenges it faces, with a strong demonstrative focus and highly applicable outputs and results. It is led by a consortium with solid expertise and experience, capable of delivering the project, representative of the entire value chain and geographically balanced. Through this project, PASTONATUR capitalises on prior knowledge and experience, shares capabilities, creates a strong cooperation network and ensures effective transfer to public policies and the sector, thereby guaranteeing a high impact of the results.
