Our Bioregion, a biodiversity hotspot
Hay meadows have experienced significant declines in Europe over the past century. These meadows, characterised by diverse plant communities and managed through traditional agricultural practices, have been highly valuable for biodiversity conservation and the provision of ecosystem services.
In the past, hay meadows were widespread across Europe, forming an essential part of traditional agricultural landscapes. They were typically managed through extensive grazing and mowing regimes, allowing a rich diversity of grasses, wildflowers, and other plants to thrive.
They have declined across Europe for two key, interlinked, reasons:
Intensification of Agriculture: The intensification of agriculture, driven by various factors such as mechanisation, increased use of fertilisers, and the desire for higher yields, has led to the conversion of hay meadows to more intensive agricultural practices. These practices often involve the reseeding of grasslands with more productive and uniform grass species, reducing the plant diversity characteristic of hay meadows.
Agricultural Policies: Agricultural policies, including subsidies and incentives, have often favoured the intensification of farming practices and the conversion of hay meadows to other land uses. Such policies have influenced landowners and farmers to prioritise more economically productive forms of agriculture.
However, there is a third driver of decline in Romania.
Land grabbing refers to the large-scale acquisition of land, often by multinational investors or corporations, without the consent or proper compensation of the local communities or small-scale farmers who traditionally own or use the land.
Romania has been an attractive target for land grabbing due to its fertile soil, natural resources, and relatively low land prices compared to other European countries. Several factors have contributed to land grabbing in Romania:
- Agricultural Potential: Romania has substantial agricultural potential, with vast areas offertile land suitable for crop cultivation and livestock farming. Foreign investors often target these lands for large-scale agribusiness projects.
- Land Market Liberalization: After joining the European Union in 2007, Romania faced pressure to liberalize its land market. However, restrictions on land acquisition by foreign individuals and entities were in place for a transitional period to protect local farmers. Still, some loopholes and legal uncertainties allowed land grabbing to occur.
- Weak Legal Framework: The country’s land laws and regulations were sometimes unclear and not adequately enforced, making it easier for unscrupulous investors to exploit the system and acquire land illegally or under questionable circumstances.
- Lack of Transparency: The lack of transparency in land transactions, along with corruption and bureaucratic inefficiencies, contributed to the problem of land grabbing.
- Economic Factors: Economic inequalities and poverty in rural areas led some local landowners to sell their land at low prices without fully understanding the consequences of their decisions.
- Multinational Investment: Multinational companies and investors, particularly from countries like China and Gulf states, have been involved in land acquisitions in Romania, further fuelling concerns about land grabbing.
Alongside the displacement of small-scale farmers and local communities, loss of livelihoods, land grabbing also leads to large-scale monocultures and intensive agriculture and has adverse effects on biodiversity and leads to habitat loss.
What is needed to address this issue is stronger legal frameworks to protect nature, increased transparency in land transactions, and support for small-scale farmers and local communities.
