WRITTEN QUESTION E-3183/01

by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(20 November 2001)

Subject: Damage to crops by wild fauna in the Baza national park (Spain)

Farmers owning land on the edge of the Sierra de Baza national park (Spain) have complained at the substantial and systematic damage being caused to their crops, and particularly to their almond trees, by the park's wild fauna. These problems occur every summer, owing to the specific characteristics of Mediterranean woodland in general and the local climate conditions in particular, thanks to which a temporary food shortage appears at that time and the animals are obliged to seek nourishment outside the limits of the Baza park.

In the face of this situation, the farmers have proposed three types of measure: compensation for the damage caused; culling plans to prevent crop damage; and the establishment of an agreement stipulating that it will not be necessary to take out legal procedures over damage caused and that the simple fact of noting the damage will suffice to make its existence official. The environment ministry of the regional government of Andalusia has not, however, taken up any of these options for dealing with the problem.

Situations as this are extremely prejudicial to the interests of the national parks themselves, since they can lead to conflicts which may, in some cases, result in disasters or serious ecological misdemeanours (arson, deforestation, poaching, invasive development etc).

Is the Commission aware of the problems at the source of the complaints lodged by the Association of Damage Victims of the Fauna of the Sierra de Baza National Park and the Proyecto Sierra de Baza Association? What action does the Commission intend to take?

Does the Commission consider that the management of national parks and rural development in the adjoining areas calls for an approach based on joint administration, with the participation of the communities affected, thus allowing them to share in the benefits, both environmental and economic, of the conservation of natural areas and sustainable resource exploitation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 2002)

The Commission is not aware of the facts referred to by the Honourable Member. Solving this type of practical problem is, moreover, a matter for the national and/or regional authorities, not the Community.

Some measures adopted under the rural development programmes could help tackle the sources of concern mentioned by the Honourable Member. The new rural development policy adopted in June 1999 seeks to establish a coherent and permanent framework to guarantee the future of rural areas by encouraging the maintenance and creation of employment and by taking account of environmental requirements.

The structural measures provided for by Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)(1) include aid for investments in agricultural holdings to preserve the natural environment, compensatory allowances in less-favoured areas, agri-environmental aid and support for agricultural and rural activities to protect the environment.

These measures have been incorporated into the Spanish rural development programme for accompanying measures, the operational programme for improving production structures in areas covered by Objective 1 in Spain, and the regional operational programme for Andalusia. To secure a Community contribution in the case mentioned by the Honourable Member, the practical initiatives requested by the farmers concerned would have to have been included in the measures in the programmes drawn up by the national and the Andalusian Governments. They would also have had to be recognised as eligible and the different partners would have had to agree on them.

It should be noted that these programmes are managed at Member State level and, therefore, by the national and/or regional authorities, not the Commission.

The Natural Park of Sierra de Baza (Granada) has in any event been proposed by the Spanish authorities as a site of Community interest which could be integrated into the Natura 2000 network.

Where sites of Community interest are concerned, Member States are obliged to adopt the statutory, administrative or contractual measures required to preserve the habitats in Annex I and the species in Annex II of Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(2), and to achieve the general objectives of this Directive.

However, the management of potential Natura 2000 network sites is the responsibility of the Member States, the Commission's role consisting in ensuring compliance with Community law.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.