Silvoarable and CAP in the EU Mediterranean Region

Silvoarable combines woody perennials with annual or perennial crops and can take different forms across Mediterranean agricultural landscapes. It includes systems with isolated or scattered trees, hedges and line belts, and also linear elements such as riparian buffer strips and landscape features associated with arable land. In the Mediterranean region, this diversity is important because farming systems are strongly shaped by water scarcity, uneven rainfall distribution and long summer droughts. These conditions make silvoarable particularly relevant as a land use that can combine production with environmental protection. The Mediterranean region is highly exposed to climate pressures, while arable intensification has reduced natural capital, especially soil resources. In this context, silvoarable is especially relevant because it can deliver more ecosystem services than monocultures while supporting adaptation and mitigation objectives.