Thanks to the support of the Oxígeno Foundation and the Lugo Provincial Council, the Corripa Association held its 5th Science in the Village Conference -V Jornadas de Ciencia Na Aldea- dedicated to rural development, biodiversity, and environmental management through organic pasture-based livestock farming.

The COBCV (Official College of Biologists of the Valencian Community) was represented at the event by its dean, María Diago. Experts from various fields, including José Carlos Otero, Javier Castroviejo Bolívar, Félix Torres, Jose Conde, Pierre-Yves Gourvil, Bernabé Moya, Ossián de Leyva, José Arrojo Fernández, Susana Rodríguez Echevarría, Conchi Lillo, and Fernando Valladares, discussed the opportunities that rural areas offer society alongside the evident risks they face, such as depopulation, large wildfires, torrential rains, and biodiversity loss. Walter Secci also addressed the importance of quality tourism linked to conservation practices in rural areas. The debate was further enriched by roundtables on grazing and extensive livestock farming, where I had the pleasure of participating alongside Concha Blanco, an organic livestock farmer, and Gemma del Caño, a specialist in biotechnology and food innovation. It was very instructive to learn about the specific characteristics of the four countries represented, but there was one thing we all agreed on: the implementation of payments for environmental services is urgent. It is time to start compensating farmers, ranchers, and beekeepers who sustain these ecosystems through their work. Governments should take seriously the recommendations that science has been making for years in this regard as part of proper management to address the environmental and social challenges of the 21st century.