LA TUTELA DELLA BIODIVERSITA' ZOOTECNICA ITALIANA NEI PIANI REGIONALI DI SVILUPPO RURALE

This paper examines the farm animal biodiversity conservation measures currently under implementation in Italy, as result of the application of EC Regulation 1257/99. The analysis highlights that 16 out of 21 RDPs actived the specific measures; that 54 out of 90 breeds at risk of extinction according the FAO are included in the RDPs. We also note that the payments offered to farmers are not correlated to species, and do not take into account the different probabilities of extinction associated with each breed. Furthermore, we observe that payments do not meet all of the relevant criteria stated in the EC Regulations, and seem unprofitable either to rear current population or to reach safe minimum standard of local breeds. Finally, we estimate the level of expected public expenditure necessary to ensure the upgrading of breeds from their "at-risk" status to a "not-at-risk" status during the period 2000-2006.