Farmers who wish to restore pastures, and their relation to policy

Abstract: Semi-natural pastures are one of the essential types of land for biodiversity in Sweden; the land provides significant beneficial values for biodiversity and is an essential part of the primary food production system. This study aims to increase understanding of how the new policy may influence farmers who wish to restore pastures. Through interviews with farmers and advisors, combined with a policy overview, four main factors which motivate farmers to restore pastures are identified: Profitability, nature conservation, preparedness, and an open landscape. The new national policy excludes restoration support from the available subsidies in conjunction with the new CAP reform. Independent of the EU policy, Sweden will implement a new national support system to implement subsidies regarding grazing and restoration. This policy change could be an opportunity to maintain and restore more semi-natural pastures in Sweden. However, the new support system risks a heavier administration burden for the farmers. The study also identifies an underlying land-use conflict between carbon capture and biodiversity when carbon capture and biodiversity policy apply to the same land.