On 28 October, the online workshop “Regulatory and Administrative Aspects of Land Stewardship for Local Authorities” took place. This training session was organised by the Network of Local Governments +Biodiversity and designed to offer municipalities and other local administrations a practical overview of how to integrate land stewardship into their environmental management and the protection of natural heritage.
The event, held within the framework of national initiatives to promote land stewardship, brought together technical staff, municipal representatives and partner organisations interested in exploring the potential of this model of environmental governance based on voluntary cooperation.
Workshop contents
During the session, the main legal and administrative aspects that local authorities should take into account when promoting land stewardship agreements were addressed:
1. Regulatory framework
- Applicable national legislation, with special attention to Law 42/2007 on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity and its recognition of land stewardship as a conservation instrument.
- The role of Law 45/2007 on Sustainable Rural Development.
- Integration with other environmental policies and regional land-use planning.
- Links with European biodiversity and climate strategies.
2. Administrative application in local authorities
- Types of legal instruments available to formalise agreements: conventions, land-use assignments, environmental management contracts, collaboration protocols.
- Recommended internal procedures: processing, reports, approval, registration and monitoring.
- Forms of collaboration with land stewardship organisations and private landowners.
- Examples of good practice in municipalities.
3. Opportunities for local governance
- Integration of land stewardship into municipal policies: urban planning, protection of natural areas, environmental education and citizen participation.
- Benefits in terms of shared responsibility, biodiversity conservation and sustainable rural development.
- Available funding sources and grants.
Full workshop video
The full recording of the workshop is now available for public viewing.
You can watch it here:
👉 Access the recording on YouTube
A useful resource to advance local environmental management
This workshop provides a solid foundation for local councils to incorporate land stewardship as a stable tool within their environmental action. The clarity of the content and the practical examples presented make it easier to assess its feasibility and real-world application in local contexts.
