Transferring pastoral knowledge to preserve vibrant rural areas

Over millennia, pastoral societies have accumulated knowledge and skills on how to successfully manage pastoral systems. Their work contributes to maintain vibrant rural areas, benefitting the rural economy and reversing land abandonment, while it also unlocks multiple ecosystem services for the whole society.

Yet, pastoral jobs are now less attractive for younger generations and most EU countries are gradually losing their pastoral knowledge due to the ageing of farming population.  The loss of pastoral knowledge leads to the unsustainable use of resources; conflicts between pastoralists and other land users; increased attacks from large carnivores; the loss of biodiversity and local livestock breeds.