"To influence farming policies and practices in Europe to contribute to the conservation of nature and ecological processes in forests, freshwater ecosystems, and oceans & coasts"
Modern agriculture has wreaked havoc with Europe's nature over the past 40 years. Valuable habitats for plants and wildlife are disappearing. Nitrates and pesticides contaminate streams and underground water. Europe's rural landscapes face a crisis as factory farming replaces diversity with bland uniformity.
Agriculture occupies more than 60% of the land in Europe, and has a major impact on forests, freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems. WWF works to change the Common Agricultural Policy so that it promotes sustainable agriculture and rural development. Vibrant rural communities should produce healthy food while safeguarding Europe's natural resources, biodiversity, and landscapes. The farming of the future should use a minimum of agricultural chemicals, and land use planning should support extensive farming systems, including hedgerows, traditional livestock raising and mixed cultivations.