“The Alpine Convention in small bites”: in this webpage we present, in a simple and dynamic way, the main topics in order to get to know the Alpine Convention. The dynamism stems from the fact that the described issues (" small bites") in this web page will be periodically updated in order to deal with all the important policies for the Alps.
Whoever would like to know about all the up-to-date "small bites" that are currently available can download the book -The Alps-Eight countries, a single territory (pdf, 9MB) published by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention in March 2009, where meaningful photographic images can be found next to the texts .
7. Mountain farming
Slightly more than four percent of the population in the Alpine area still live on agriculture and, in the last 25 years, the agricultural population has decreased by over 40 percent. The number of farms run as a secondary activity is plummeting. Since 1980, two out of three people have given up farming as a secondary activity. At the same time, throughout the Alps, farms are becoming larger and the overall cultivated land is only slightly decreasing. Out of more than four million hectares, over 80 percent is used as pasture, while traditional Alpine agriculture plays an increasingly small role. Half of the farmed animals are still cattle. While the number of pigs is clearly decreasing, sheep farming is booming in various regions.
The goals of the Protocol reflect the multifaceted significance of mountain farming. Its contributions are mentioned for the maintenance and care of the cultural life and for the preservation of settlements. Through the promotion of a locally suitable and environmentally sustainable agriculture, effective actions are taken against natural hazards. These actions aim to preserve both beauty and the recreational value of the the Alpine area, and they should be strengthened. It is clear that the conditions for the small structured agricultural production in the Alpine mountain region cannot compare with those of the plains. Grants are therefore given first of all to offset such differences. The Protocol also mentions spatial planning measures, which ensure to mountain farming the necessary areas to fulfil its tasks, while the many traditional elements of cultural life are to be maintained or rebuilt.
The Protocol on Mountain Farming focuses on livestock farming suited to local conditions and on the genetic diversity of livestock and crops. Projects can be funded to bring the original types of livestock back to the forefront, better suited to Alpine pastures and highlands than some of those currently farmed.