Regional Summary: Assessment of SARD-M policies in Latin America
A recent study assessed the state of agricultural and sustainable rural development policies in the mountainous regions in three countries in Latin America: Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
The assessment focuses on the policies of SARD-M for natural resource management as an entry point for the analysis. The main policies and institutions concerned with water management, agricultural development, environmental management and forests were identified in this study. An analysis of the main obstacles in rural development policies in mountainous regions was also carried out along with proposed follow-up activities.
The document also includes insight into the causes of lack of governance in the mountain regions policies mainly due to the centralized and sector-focused rural development policies. There is little participation despite decentralization in functions, but not in resources. The document also deals with the depletion of natural resources, stressing the need for sustainable economic development and avoiding contradictions between agricultural and natural resource policies.
Information sheet: SARD-M in Latin America
A 4-page synthesis of the above Regional Summary (Latin America) is now available.
Regional Summary: Assessment of SARD-M policies in the Member States of the Carpathian Convention
This synthesis document includes a comprehensive assessment of the related policies, institutions and processes (PIP) of sustainable agriculture and rural development in the Carpathian Mountain region.
The document is a complementary assessment to the first report published in 2007 on the assessments of the strengths and weaknesses of mountain-related policies, including social, economic, environmental, legal and institutional aspects, in relation to SARD principles, in Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine. The FAO SARD-M Project and UNEP Vienna-Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention (ISCC) agreed to carry out a second analysis of SARD-M policies in the other countries of the Carpathian region, including Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Serbia.
Information sheet: SARD-M in the Member States of the Carpathian Convention
A 4-page synthesis of the above Regional Summary (Carpathian Countries) is now available.
Full report : Assessment of strengths and weaknesses of mountain polices: Bulgaria national report
The National report on the assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of mountain policies in the SEE Europe (Balkans) carried out within the framework of the SARD-M project aims at supporting the rural livelihoods of mountain people by facilitating the design, review, implementation and evaluation of relevant policy packages and institutional processes for promoting SARD in mountain regions at global, regional, national and local levels.
Since its adhesion to the EU, Bulgaria’s national farming system increased production while improving its standards. Improved financing and mechanisms for small- and medium-sized farm operations have also increased as well as substantial financial support, thanks to EU subsidies. The National Rural Development Plan, being implemented since 2007 in Bulgaria, poses many challenges targeting sustainable use of mountain resources, production of biomass and renewable energy, sustainable use of forests, introducing Less Favoured Areas, organic farming and processing.
The study includes a rapid national assessment of strengths and weaknesses of mountain-related policies for SARD; and provides recommendations for the improvement of SARD-M policies and proposals for concrete follow-up activities at the SEE (Balkan) level.
Some recommendations to be implemented regarding the development of mountainous regions in Bulgaria included in the report are:
Regional Summary: Assessment of SARD-M policies in the Member States of the Balkan Mountain Region
This synthesis document includes a comprehensive assessment of the related policies, institutions and processes (PIP) of sustainable agriculture and rural development in three Balkan countries of South East Europe: Albania, Bulgaria and Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. The mountain region is under strong economic development pressure, and the need to generate income and improve the living standards of the population is leading to the growing exploitation of natural resources. Agricultural, Environmental and Rural Development policies and institutions have suffered a long period of eclipse and are now being rebuilt, although with varying results.
Among the proposed recommendations, is the cooperation process or the so-called “South East European (Balkans) Framework Convention” started in 2005: it should go ahead, in order to ensure conservation and a sustainable future for the region, seen as a common ecosystem. Parties should agree to establish a comprehensive policy towards this end, and endeavour to cooperate in several areas of common interest, including biodiversity, agriculture and rural development, forest land use, management of water resources, transport, tourism, cultural heritage and traditional knowledge, energy and spatial planning.
Information sheet: SARD-M policies in the mountain States of the Balkan region
A 4-page synthesis of the above Regional Summary (Balkan region) is now available.
