EJP_SOIL_Land abandonment in Europe

Land Abandonment (LA) is an increasing issue in some parts of the EU. Several factors can be the driving factor behind LA. The highest rate of LA in 2006-2018 is in Spain, Southern France, mountainous areas of Italy and Greece, South-east Poland, East Latvia and Lithuania but goes largely unnoticed. Marginal and remote agricultural land and pastoral land is especially exposed to abandonment. Infrastructural policies and the decoupling of payments in CAP are main legislative drivers, however Pillar II payments are generally seen as effective in reducing abandonment of agricultural land.