Agriculture & Forestry
Sustainable land use, afforestation, and forest management activities contributing to climate objectives.
Agriculture and forestry play a central role in the EU Taxonomy as land-based activities with significant potential for carbon sequestration and climate resilience. This sector covers crop production, livestock, silviculture, and related support services that can be managed sustainably to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sinks.
The Taxonomy recognises that well-managed forests and agricultural land act as natural carbon stores. Activities such as afforestation, reforestation, rehabilitation of degraded land, and conservation forestry are included because they directly contribute to climate change mitigation through CO2 removal from the atmosphere.
Climate change adaptation is equally relevant -- agricultural and forestry operations must build resilience against extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, and rising temperatures. The technical screening criteria require robust adaptation plans based on climate risk assessments, ensuring that these land-based activities remain productive under future climate scenarios.
Economic Activities
Afforestation
StandardEstablishment of forest through planting or seeding on land that has not been forested for at least the past 20 years.
Rehabilitation and Restoration of Forests
StandardRehabilitation and restoration of degraded forests to improve carbon sequestration capacity and ecosystem resilience.
Forest Management
StandardSustainable management of existing forests to maintain and enhance carbon stocks while producing timber and non-timber forest products.
Conservation Forestry
StandardManagement of forests with the primary objective of conserving biodiversity and protecting ecosystem services including carbon storage.
Livestock Farming
TransitionalTransitional activity covering livestock farming practices that substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions from enteric fermentation and manure management.
Growing of Perennial Crops
TransitionalTransitional activity covering the cultivation of perennial crops using practices that enhance soil carbon sequestration and reduce agricultural emissions.