On 2–3 June, the LIFE ShepForBio project took part in two important events in Brussels focused on generational renewal in pastoral farming and the role of Pastoral Schools in supporting the future of rural areas across Europe.
The highlight took place on 3 June during the “Lunchtime Debate: Pastoral Schools and Generational Renewal in Europe”, organized by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI).
Together with representatives from the Catalan Shepherd School, the LIFE Maronesa project, and the French Coordination of Pastoral Schools, LIFE ShepForBio contributed to a discussion on the strategic role that Pastoral Schools can play in fostering generational renewal in farming and livestock production, particularly in the context of the next programming period of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The event also provided an opportunity to highlight the broader value of pastoralism as a practice that combines environmental sustainability with rural development. Extensive livestock farming and pastoral management contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, the protection of cultural landscapes, the provision of essential ecosystem services, and the promotion of sustainable socio-economic development for millions of people around the world.
To learn more about these topics, visit the page dedicated to the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP).
