Greece

AGROFORESTRY in GREECE

Agroforestry is a defining feature of the Greek landscape, covering an estimated over 3 million hectares, or approximately 23% of the national land area. These systems—ranging from silvopastoral grazing lands to olive-based intercropping reflect centuries of traditional land use adapted to Mediterranean environmental conditions. Despite this strong legacy, modern policy and administrative frameworks have only recently begun to systematically support agroforestry.

Policy Framework and CAP Support

Under the Greek CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027, agroforestry is primarily supported through eco-scheme P1-31.5, titled “Improvement of agroforestry ecosystems, rich in landscape elements.” This scheme focuses on the maintenance and enhancement of existing systems, rather than the establishment of new ones. It has a total budget of €148 million over six years, targeting approximately 148,000 hectares.

Initial uptake was modest, with less than €1.1 million distributed to 920 farmers in 2023. However, a policy revision in mid-2024, allowing silvopastoral systems to qualify, significantly increased participation. Payment processing for these newer applications is expected to conclude in April 2026.

In parallel, other eco-schemes—particularly those supporting monumental and extensive olive groves—offer substantially higher payments (€100–150/ha/year) compared to agroforestry schemes (up to €100/ha/year), creating an imbalance in incentives.

Within Pillar II (Rural Development), agroforestry is not explicitly defined as a standalone measure but can be indirectly supported through:

Investment interventions (P3-73), including afforestation, fencing, and irrigation (up to 100% support for non-productive investments), 

Agri-environment-climate measures (P3-70), particularly those linked to landscape protection and traditional systems. 

Notably, a dedicated measure for establishing forest species on agricultural land is expected to launch in Spring 2026.

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Definitions and System Characteristics

The Greek CAP defines agroforestry as systems combining trees (forest or fruit) with crops and/or livestock. These may include:

  • Scattered trees or tree rows within arable land, 
  • Tree belts or hedgerows at field boundaries, 
  • Silvopastoral systems with up to 40% tree cover. 

Tree densities range from 5 to 250 trees per hectare, depending on system type. Agroforestry also overlaps significantly with the definition of permanent pasture, especially under the “established local practices” clause, which allows woody vegetation (shrubs and trees) to be included in grazing land—even where herbaceous cover is limited.

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Land Use, Mapping and Legal Constraints

A major challenge for agroforestry in Greece is the legal classification of land, which relies on historical comparison with aerial imagery from 1945. Land is categorized as forest or agricultural based on its status then and now, leading to complex classifications such as:

  • Forest remaining forest, 
  • Forest converted to agriculture, 
  • Agricultural land reverting to forest. 

This system creates uncertainty, particularly for silvopastoral systems, as land that has naturally reforested may be legally protected as forest. Farmers often face restrictions or risk losing eligibility for CAP payments.

Although recent legal reforms allow some flexibility in reclassifying land, implementation remains inconsistent. The introduction of Grazing Management Plans (Law 4351/2015) aimed to resolve these conflicts, but progress has been slow. As a result, many farmers operate in a legal grey area, especially in mountainous and semi-natural grazing lands.

Agroforestry in Practice and Data Systems

In the Greek Land Parcel Information System (LPIS), agroforestry is rarely explicitly coded. Instead, it is embedded within broader land-use categories:

  • Arable land (Code 1) with scattered trees, 
  • Pasture (Code 9), typically including shrubs and trees, 
  • Olive groves (Code 15), often grazed or intercropped. 

Eligibility for payments depends on tree density and classification, with mechanisms such as the Pasture Eligibility Coefficient (PEF) used to adjust payments in wooded grazing areas.

This reflects a key reality: in Greece, the integration of trees and agriculture is the norm rather than the exception, but administrative systems lag behind this complexity.

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Performance and Gaps

Despite policy intentions, progress in expanding agroforestry remains slow. Greece has a CAP target of over 160,000 hectares of tree planting by 2030, yet no new areas were reported in 2024. Moreover, confusion persists over whether performance indicators measure new agroforestry establishment or simply support for existing systems.

Implementation of Agri-Environment-Climate Measures (AECMs) has also been delayed, with no uptake reported as of late 2025.

Strengths, Challenges and Opportunities

Agroforestry in Greece benefits from:

  • Strong traditional knowledge and cultural acceptance, 
  • High ecological and climate resilience value, 
  • Growing policy recognition at national and EU level. 

However, several barriers persist:

  • Legal uncertainty over land classification, 
  • Complex and slow administrative processes, 
  • Low financial incentives compared to alternative schemes, 
  • Fragmented land ownership and aging farmer population. 

At the same time, significant opportunities are emerging:

  • Integration into climate policy (LULUCF, Net Zero targets), 
  • Potential carbon farming schemes, 
  • Inclusion in the upcoming Nature Restoration Plan (2026), 
  • Rising interest from young farmers and agro-entrepreneurs. 

Policy Recommendations

To unlock the full potential of agroforestry in Greece, the following actions are critical:

  1. Ensure legal clarity so that trees do not jeopardize subsidy eligibility. 
  2. Simplify CAP procedures, particularly for small-scale farmers. 
  3. Explicitly recognize agroforestry in LPIS, including tree features. 
  4. Promote targeted investment support for establishment, not just maintenance. 
  5. Strengthen advisory services, focusing on agronomists and farm consultants. 
  6. Align agricultural and forestry policies to eliminate institutional conflicts. 
  7. Promote agroforestry as “advanced traditional farming”, leveraging cultural heritage. 
  8. Develop market incentives, including branding for agroforestry products.

References

Copernicus [Internet]. 2020 [cited 30 Oct 2023]. Available:  https://land.copernicus.eu/en/products/high-resolution-layer-tree-cover-density

Government of Greece. Law No. 4351 on Grazing Land in Greece and other provisions. In: www.minagric.gr [Internet]. 2015 [cited 13 Jan 2026]. Available: https://www.ecolex.org/ 

European Agroforestry Federation (EURAF), 2026. Agroforestry policies in Greece. Policy Briefing 37, 31 January.

Papanastasis VP. Agroforestry. Thessaloniki, Greece: Ziti Publications; 2015. 2.