Conservation policy does not only decide over the fate of many animal and plant species but also determines future prospects of people in rural areas. In a number of different pilot schemes – for example at the Narew in Poland and in the Spanish Extremadura EuroNatur demonstrates that environmentally friendly and quality-oriented food production creates additional employment and makes economic sense. This includes future-oriented technologies such as decentralised waste-water treatment, renewable energy, strategies for reducing energy consumption and the strengthening of public transport networks. Our credo is “Not genetic engineering, but engineering for the future”.