Political Economy Students' Journal

On July 11th, 2023, the European Parliament adopted its position on the European  Union Nature Restoration Law, with 336 votes in favor, 300 against, and 13 abstentions.  Following this proposal, a vote was conducted to reject the Commission’s position,  however, this measure ultimately failed with 312 votes in favor, 324 against, and 12  abstentions. The conclusion of this exhaustive plenary session carries significant implications, especially given that this law is the most extensive of its type, leading to a  marked division between those in favor and those in opposition. In a nutshell, the law aims to restore 30% of land that is damaged or lost due to natural processes or human activities. According to their findings, 80% of the land across EU member states is affected, and their objective is to restore 30% of this land, with 10% designated for permanent protection. To achieve this objective, each member state is required to draft a  plan aligning with their capacities to obtain these goals and submit it for review by a  designated Committee in 2025. Although there is some flexibility on how this should be accomplished, the proposal suggests that the most effective approach to restoring the environment involves the complete removal of human activities within a given area. This would enable the affected region to naturally recover without further human intervention. 

 

Active measures, such as the one suggested above, aim to prevent the further degradation of habitats by eliminating external pressures. However, the following section of this article will illustrate that a complete cessation of external pressures, such as livestock grazing, could lead to even more detrimental consequences, as demonstrated by the Zimbabwean farmer, Allan Savory. According to his research, if livestock is managed in a timely manner that mirrors the natural grazing patterns of wild herds, such as bison,  their presence enhances the natural restoration cycle of the field they are grazing on. For example, vegetation that is susceptible to high temperatures tends to dry more rapidly. In an effort to prevent complete dehydration, the plant will store a significant portion of its energy at its roots, leaving the top to die off. However, the bulk of the plant that dries off becomes a liability because it blocks the sunlight from reaching the roots, preventing the growth of new leaves and stems for the upcoming season. Before the domestication of livestock, wild elk herds, as well as other grazing species such as zebras, antelopes,  kangaroos, and so forth, would consume a fair amount of these plants throughout their whole cycle. By doing so, they played a vital role in stimulating the growth of plants by removing the dry material and trampling what they didn’t eat to the ground. Subsequently,  this material would then decay with the help of microorganisms that are found in the dung of these animals. 

 

I had the opportunity to witness this relationship between the environment and grazing livestock during my volunteer exchange at a dairy goat farm in Úbeda, renowned as one of Spain’s oldest towns. The owners, Juan and Rosa, are dedicated to producing organic products and operate with the concept of working in harmony with nature to ensure the well-being and comfort of their animals. They rented out two large pasture fields behind their farm, where they could take up to 600 goats to graze for more than eight hours daily. This approach provided the goats with plenty of exercise and facilitated their grazing rotations, aiding in the restoration of degraded lands. Unfortunately, the rate of their rent was increased to a level at which their production capabilities could no longer cover the costs, forcing them to significantly scale back their operations. Moreover, strict regulations on the sale of dairy milk prevented them from selling their products unless it was through an intermediary. As they downsized, their usual intermediary, which exclusively dealt with organic dairy producers, found their negotiations unprofitable and consequently severed ties. The only other intermediary accessible in their location was a  company that bought milk in bulk from intensive dairy goat farms, and they offered a  considerably low price for the entire lot. Goats that are in these intensive farms very rarely graze in pastures and are fed fodder with supplements that increase their milk production to a point at which they require milking twice a day, a practice that has adverse consequences on their health. In fact, when Juan and Rosa sold their goats, they were sent to an intensive farm where, within a few days of arrival, nearly half succumbed to stress or were in critical condition. 

 

From running a prosperous small-scale dairy goat farm that prioritized the comfort of their animals and in line with their natural biology, Juan and Rosa are now left with no goats and have put up their farm for sale. Moreover, the grazing fields that they had leased are now susceptible to further degradation, especially considering it is in one of Spain’s hottest regions. The surrounding area is covered by hundreds of kilometres of olive trees with not a single trace of grass on the ground, as it has all been eradicated by herbicides.  Consequently, the prospect of native species grazing in these pastures is now non-existent.  I have shared this story with the intent of demonstrating how small-scale farms can significantly contribute to the restoration of their surrounding environment through the effective management of livestock grazing. Virtually, the pasture fields of Juan and Rosa reflect what active measures to restore the environment could look like, especially if they are in lands that were previously dedicated to agricultural activities. Juan and Rosa are only one of many who will find it increasingly challenging to continue their practice as regulations become more stringent, especially as the Nature Restoration Law also aims to reduce farming activity by 40%. 

 

I hope Juan and Rosa’s story highlights the far-reaching consequences of the  Nature Restoration Law. Although they live in a small town away from all the bustling noise present in big cities, they are immensely affected by the decisions taken by the headquarters of the EU and other environmental organizations. For clarity, I would like to emphasize that the decision made by Juan and Rosa to terminate their project is not directly linked to the implementation of the Natural Restoration Law. Yet, it struck me as an interesting coincidence that I had the opportunity to observe the positive results of their project and the possible repercussions of their absence. Moving forward, it is of upmost importance that more methods are explored to achieve the conservation goals outlined in the Nature Restoration Law while also considering the role of livestock management and its potential benefits or drawbacks to the environment.