Buffer Strips In The Marche Region (Italy): Probing The Implementation Potential Of The Gaec 5.2 Standard

In this paper attention is given to the Common Agricultural Policy in the EU as one of major driver of change in rural landscapes. We focus on the Standards of Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) as part of the Cross Compliance requirements in the frame of Pillar I (direct payment) and of the objectives of Pillar II (Rural Development). The new GAEC 5.2 standard on the Buffer Strip along watercourses was introduced in Italy in January 2011 and was adopted by the Marche Region in early 2012. The second appointment of the Careggi Seminars, initiative launched by UNISCAPE with the support of the Tuscany Region, was held on Monday 16 April 2012 at Palazzo Bastogi in Florence (via Cavour 18). The theme of this second seminar was "Rural landscapes. Towards a better integration of rural development policies, urban and landscape planning": the aim was to promote a debate on the current state of the research perspectives for rural and peri-urban landscapes.