The European Court of Auditors has said that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was not effective in reversing years of decline in biodiversity across Europe.

The report took into account a number of member states, including Ireland, and found that intensive agriculture was still a main cause of biodiversity loss.

Intensive farming has led to a downturn

“Since 1990, populations of farmland birds and grassland butterflies – a good indicator of changes – have decreased by more than 30%. Intensive farming has led to a downturn in the abundance and diversity of natural vegetation and consequently animals, and remains a main cause of biodiversity loss,” auditors said.

It was also found that there was poor coordination between EU policies and strategies which compounded the decline of biodiversity.

Recommendations

The report included a number of recommendations, including that member states' strategic plans should include ambitious biodiversity-friendly rural development interventions.

They also suggested linking payment with the outcomes of biodiversity measures on farms.

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The watchdog has said that they found intensive farming remained a main cause of biodiversity loss on farms across Europe.