Agroforestry and Enhanced Conditionality

We review the proposed rules for "enhanced conditionality" in the new CAP and recommend: a) Member States should recognise the potential for agroforestry to contribute to all ten Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions, and include this in their GAEC guidance rules to farmers; b)  “Hectares of Agroforestry” should count fully towards GAEC 9 whether the trees are on arable land,  permanent grassland or permanent crops (this is not currently the case), and whether or not they have been assisted by current or previous Pillar II schemes; c) Member States should have flexibility over the permitted dimensions of Landscape Features  (up to certain maxima - e.g. 20m hedge with), but the dimension should be clear to farmers, and  the full GAEC9 area should be eligible to receive Direct Payments