Protect the most fertile soils so they keep being farmed

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would protect High Agrological Value Soils (SAVASAVA Suelo de Alto Valor Agrológico: soil with very high fertility, suitable for growing almost any crop.) and Soils of Agrarian Interest (SIASIA Suelo de Interés Agrario: soil with notable agrarian, environmental or territorial value, though not in the top category.) for their environmental, productive and historical value, and would promote sustainable, viable farming on them.
2. SAVA soils would be those with very high fertility, with specific criteria such as a slope of 0 to 3 percent, very few stones and good drainage. Their protection would prevail over territorial planning and urban zoning.
3. SIA soils are other soils with significant agrarian, environmental or territorial value. The autonomous communities would declare them, and they would be treated as non-developable or protected rural land.
4. If a protected soil loses its values, the autonomous community would have to guarantee its restoration, and changing its use would be banned meanwhile. Infrastructure of general interest could not be placed on SAVA soils except in well-justified exceptional cases.
5. The bill would create a National Inventory of protected soils and a State Soil Conservation Strategy, with each autonomous community adopting its own strategy within three years.
6. The bill creates Agrarian Parks, spaces to protect and manage farming activity, with goals such as bringing farmers closer to consumers and helping young people access land. Farms on these soils would get priority access to farming support measures.

Who it affects

• Owners of protected soils: They would have to keep the land in farm use, preserve its fertility and avoid polluting it.
• Autonomous communities: They would have to identify and protect SIA soils and guarantee restoration of degraded soils.
• Municipalities and local entities: They could start protection proceedings and take part in Agrarian Parks.
• Farms on protected soils: They would get priority access to farming support measures.

Words worth knowing

SAVA

Suelo de Alto Valor Agrológico: soil with very high fertility, suitable for growing almost any crop.

SIA

Suelo de Interés Agrario: soil with notable agrarian, environmental or territorial value, though not in the top category.

Sellado del suelo (soil sealing)

Covering soil with asphalt, concrete or buildings so it is no longer fertile.

Parque Agrario (Agrarian Park)

A figure for protecting and managing farming areas, especially near cities, with a managing body and a plan.

Regadío histórico (historic irrigated farmland)

A traditional community irrigation system, with canals and water sharing managed by the irrigators' community.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries