The core of the Community's environmental strategy within the CAP has been the application of the targeted agri-environment measures throughout the territories of the Member States. The agri-environment programmes offer payments to farmers who, on a voluntary and contractual basis, provide environmental services to protect the environment and maintain the countryside. These services improve the quality of life in the countryside and can contribute to the diversification of economic activities, in particular through tourism. Such payments are also open for bio-mass and bio-fuels, provided that environmental protection is ensured. ... The agri-environment measures cover ways of using agricultural land, which are compatible with the protection and improvement of the environment, the landscape and its features, natural resources, the soil and genetic resources. This includes organic farming and other low-input farming techniques, agricultural practices needed to support the nature protection value of Natura 2000, set-aside for environmental purposes, and the environmental maintenance of abandoned farmland.
