"Peatlands, grasslands, soils and agroforestry systems are natural carbon sinks. The way agricultural land is used influences its capacity for carbon storage."
– by Corinna Friedrich Project Leader
THE PROJECT
Landcare Europe Captures Carbon
Supporting Natural Climate Protection in Agricultural Landscapes
'This project is part of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).’
November 2023 - March 2026
The Partners
- Deutscher Verband für Landschaftspflege (DVL) e.V. (Germany)
- Baltic Environmental Forum (Lithuania)
- Agri-Cultura-Natura Transylvaniae Association (Romania)
- Czech Society for Ornithology (Czech Republic)
- Brodsko ekološko društvo-BED (Croatia)
Photo credit: Erich Herrmann
Our Objective
The project supports natural climate protection by demonstrating how we can farm agricultural landscapes to improve their carbon storage capacity while being ecologically and economically sustainable.
Our Activities
- Collecting best-practice examples in Europe
- Hosting 4 European Workshops & Field visits
- Holding 4 local framers-to-farmers trainings
- Formulating policy recommendations on EU and national levels
- Writing a manual with key success factors for implementation
- Creating videos on landcare activities in natural climate protection
- Organizing a multiplier conference for decision makers
Manual
Manual
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS FOR CREATING NATURAL CARBON SINKS WITH FARMERS
December 2025
This publication aims to improve the knowledge of agricultural landscapes as natural carbon sinks. It is dedicated to farmers, multipliers, and decision-makers in Europe.
Farmers are key stakeholders in mitigating climate change, as the way in which land is farmed has a significant influence on the emission of greenhouse gases. However, soils and biomass also have the ability to store carbon if mitigation practices are applied.
Policy Papers
EU Policy Papers
In the project we identified four focus topics that have a high potential to reduce GHG emissions in the agriculture sector:
1. Extensively managed grasslands as natural carbon sinks
Find information on the related workshop, held from 11-13 June 2024 in Slavonski Brod, Croatia here
Download policy recommendations grasslands
2. Soils as natural carbon sinks
Find information on the related workshop, held from 30 Sept - 2 Oct 2024 in Pardubice, Czech Republic here
Download policy recommendations soil
3. Modern and traditional agroforestry systems as natural carbon sinks
Find information on the related workshop, held from 16 - 17 June 2025 in Băile Homorod, Romania here
Download policy recommendations agroforestry
4. Peatlands as natural carbon sinks
A thematic workshop took place 09 & 10 Sept 2025 in Vilnius, Lithuania
Download policy recommendations peatlands
Best-practice profiles
Profiles Best-practice
Result-based eco-scheme for extensive grassland management
Country: Germany
Category: CAP measure
Field: Extensively managed grasslands
Download profile here (pdf)
Baisogala - Peatland restauration
Country: Lithuania
Category: Projects & Cooperations
Field: Peatlands
Download profile here (pdf)
Regional Cultural Landscape Management Plan
Country: Germany
Category: Project / Initiative
Field: Healthy Soils / Agroforestry / Peatlands
Download profile here (pdf)
Association for Innovation and Sustainable Agriculture
Country: Czech Republic
Category: Projects & Cooperations, CAP measure
Field: Healthy Soils
Download profile here (pdf)
CAP scheme for agroforestry
Country: Czech Republic
Category: CAP measure
Field: Agroforestry
Download profile here (pdf)
Gajna- significant landscape
Country: Croatia
Category: Projects & Cooperations
Field: Extensively managed grasslands/wetlands
Download profile here (pdf)
Brockenbauer – from farm to fork
Country: Germany
Category: Model farm
Field: Extensively managed grasslands
Download profile here (pdf)
Woodchips to improve soil quality
Country: Belgium
Category: Projects & Cooperations
Field: Healthy Soils
Download profile here (pdf)
Result-based AECM “Burren Programme”
Country: Ireland
Category: CAP measure
Field: Grassland / Healthy Soils
Download profile here (pdf)
Fazakas Imre - Model farm for healthy soils
Country: Romania
Category: Model farm
Field: Heathy Soils, extensively managed grasslands
Download profile here (pdf)
Best Practice Videos
Best Practice Videos
Peatland Climate Farming in North-East Germany