Agroforestry systems in Italy’s CAP and NCP

The Italian CAP’s strategic plan includes agroforestry systems as part of its agricultural policy, defining them as combinations of tree cover with crops and extensive livestock farming, with up to 250 trees per hectare. These systems are eligible for basic and rural development payments, and cover approximately 1.4 million hectares, mainly in areas under high environmental pressure. Despite their importance, their integration into the National Energy and Climate Plan is limited, and SIPAF data are not available on EU portals, making monitoring difficult. CAP accounts indicate 50,159 hectares in related categories, although without a detailed breakdown. It is recommended that their application be extended to areas with lower tree cover.