95 CAP 2028 -34: a new lead ing role inbiodiversity conserv ation? PEDRO BINGRE DO AMARAL President of the National Board of the LPN - League for the Protection of Nature Since 1992, when the States gathered at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development signed the Rio Declaration, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has taken on greater environmental concerns, complemented since that same year by the LIFE Programme for the conservation of biodiversity in rural areas. The synergy between these figures has been extremely important for the conservation of fauna, flora and habitats. Specifically, LIFE has helped to establish management plans and conservation needs in agricultural areas of high Nature value located on land designated as the Natura 2000 network, while the CAP Strategic Plan (CAPSP), through specific support, has provided financial compensation to farmers to implement these conservation actions on the ground. Given that the objective of the League for the Protection of Nature (LPN) is to help conserve biodiversity by all means at its disposal, and given the undeniable fact that the agricultural sector is one of the most important players in the management of rural areas, which are home to most of the native fauna and flora, this environmental non-governmental organisation shares its thoughts on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy 2028-34, particularly in view of the possible extinction of the LIFE programme. Hypothetical scenario: end of LIFE and the Competit ivenses Fund Although the LIFE Programme is still in force, there has been ongoing debate about its future and its budget allocation. In the European Commission's latest proposal, the LIFE programme will be absorbed by the European Competitiveness Fund, the largest financial instrument in the second heading of the budget, relating to competitiveness, prosperity and security. This instrument, which will merge 14 programmes from the current framework, will divide investments according to four political priorities: clean transition and industrial decarbonisation; health, biotechnology and bioeconomy; digital leadership; and resilience, defence industry and space. Therefore, there will be no explicit priority specifically focused on nature conservation.
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