The study aims to gain more knowledge of the environmental effects of farmland afforestation in order to better understand the factors behind successful afforestation in rural development programmes, and the pitfalls to avoid. Minor references are made to related measures such as afforestation of non-agricultural land and forestry measures for Natura 2000, but these were not included in the study aims. This study was undertaken with limited resources. The methodology consisted of a literature review and a short questionnaire to one expert in selected MS (see below and Annex 16). It was not possible with the resources available to undertake in-depth analysis of the environmental effects of farmland afforestation affecting almost 2 million hectares across the EU over a period of 20 years. Furthermore the analysis was handicapped by the dearth of published scientific research into the environmental effects of farmland afforestation, other than on a few specific sites. The study reports on the main literature available and reviews the main considerations for the environmental effects of farmland afforestation.