Breeders and biodiversity

A positive cooperation to serve the Gascon Hills

The essentials to understand the LIFE Coteaux Gascons

WHY ?

The project was designed to meet the issues of interconnection between livestock farming and biodiversity, preservation of the natural resource and rural landscape, adaptation to climate change and to the socio-economic context.

WHAT IS IT ?

It is a set of measures designed to :

raise awareness and mobilise the actors of the Gascon Hills area.
Support them in the restoration and sustainable management of pastures, meadows and environments linked to livestock farming.
Promote and value their actions.

PROJECT AREA ?

The project takes place in the Gascon hillsides, les Coteaux Gasons, a fundamental link in the European biodiversity network.

FOR WHOM ?

For stockbreeders who wish to improve their working conditions and the management of their grasslands.

For landowners wishing to achieve sustainable management of their land.

For representatives willing to highlight the value of their territory and the actors who shape it.

And for all the curious citizens who live, work and enjoy this area.

HOW ?

A team :

4 commited structures with complementary skills

AND CONCRETE ACTIONS :

Meetings to identify and mobilise local stakeholders, particularly livestock farmers
Cross-agricultural and ecological diagnoses, prior to the management and restoration of environments dependent on livestock farming (2,500 hectares of meadows, moors and pastures)
Monitoring of biodiversity indicators: orchids, butterflies, birds, to "measure" the effects of agro-pastoralism
Technical and land management assistance for farmers and landowners
Training for farmers and representatives
Awareness-raising tools and events for all, to highlight the value of the area and the benefits of the "biodiversity - livestock" combination
Dissemination of the work done to define and re-constitute a network of agro-pastoral environments to be implemented in other European regions