Europe’s Post-2027 CAP Enters a Crucial Phase for Farmland Wildlife

The debate over the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy is entering a decisive stage in the European Union, with direct implications for farmland wildlife, game management and small-game hunting across the continent.

The European Federation for Hunting and Conservation, FACE, has warned that biodiversity linked to agricultural landscapes must not be absorbed into broad general funds without dedicated money for practical habitat work on the ground.

Habitat funding, not just environmental promises

According to the federation, discussions on the future EU budget for 2028-2034 are continuing in the European Parliament, where work is under way on future National and Regional Partnership Plans. FACE believes this budget structure will be decisive in determining whether Member States can provide real support for measures that benefit farmland species.

For hunters, the issue is highly relevant. Open-country species associated with small game, including the red-legged partridge, quail and hare, depend on a varied agricultural mosaic with fallow land, field margins, hedgerows, extensive grazing, flower strips and feeding areas.

Without workable incentives for farmers and land managers, such measures are unlikely to be maintained at the scale needed to make a meaningful difference.

FACE notes that the draft under discussion includes percentages for rural development, LEADER programmes and young farmers, but warns that a broad agri-environmental allocation does not automatically guarantee targeted funding for nature conservation.

The federation argues that the future CAP should create clear incentives to restore agricultural habitats and prevent wildlife from being pushed into the background by other budget priorities.

A decision with consequences for European small game

The European Commission presents the post-2027 CAP as a central element of the EU’s next budget, built around a simpler and more flexible model. The European Parliament has also previously backed an agricultural policy with sufficient funding, less bureaucracy and incentives for environmental and social objectives.

For FACE, the core issue is practical: the next European farming policy must reserve effective resources for habitat measures.

In practice, the future of Europe’s farmland wildlife will depend less on broad biodiversity speeches and more on how money is actually allocated for fallow areas, field margins, ground cover, hedgerows and other essential features of the agricultural landscape.