This year's field trip to Transylvania organized by the Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG) united German and Romanian expertise to raise awareness for biodiversity and its importance for ecological engineering and sustainable land use. Through discussions on agricultural multifunctionality, the participants were sensitized to the respective impacts of various management methods, which differ widely in Romania and Germany, especially with regard to the degree of biodiversity in their regions.

The knowledge-exchange among farmers and STACCATO members from both countries provided an opportunity to examine a variety of indicators that help to evaluate the benefits of different ecosystem services in representative European landscapes.

Under the guidance of Romanian farmers and experts, the group visited the Transylvanian region and discussed the importance and function of structural elements in agricultural landscapes. These lively discussions, which also addressed the current opportunities and limitations of European agricultural policy, encouraged participants to intensify their efforts to promote long-term sustainability in agriculture in their regions. Peasant farming, soil characteristics and crop diversity are just some of the other topics raised during the four-day excursion.

Read more about the lessons learned during this field trip here: Presentation