It is well known that agriculture can play a key role in maintaining and promoting biodiversity, as well as potentially benefiting from the existence of such biodiversity.
The enormous diversity of farms, and in particular vineyards, both with regard to the physical environment in which they operate, as well as the type of activity practiced in them, require the adaptation of conservation initiatives and promotion of biodiversity that relate to the type of agriculture and characteristics of each zone. Even intensive farming can improve agricultural practices to help minimise the negative impacts that monoculture of the rural landscape may have on biodiversity.
Natura 2000 is a network of core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species, and some rare natural habitat types which are protected in their own right. It stretches across all 28 EU countries, both on land and at sea. The aim of the network is to ensure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats, listed under both the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive.
Natura 2000 is not a system of strict nature reserves from which all human activities would be excluded. While it includes strictly protected nature reserves, most of the land remains privately owned. The approach to conservation and sustainable use of the Natura 2000 areas is much wider, largely centred on people working with nature rather than against it. However, Member States must ensure that the sites are managed in a sustainable manner, both ecologically and economically. Over the past few years other similar initiatives and projects have been created with the aim of promoting the conservation of biodiversity by companies, such as the "Business & Biodiversity" and the "Countdown 2010".
Aligned with the strategy of habitat conservation, Natura 2000 and other national and international-oriented initiatives, WASP priorities practices (amongst others):
