A thread started elsewhere.....   it appears that if a finca or olive grove or whatever is allowed to let go ferral for more than a certain time it somehow comes under the auspices of the Agents Rural and that they need to be consulted before the land is brought under control and back into production.

WHY?   

If I own the land and take responsibilty for it why should I not expect to be able to decide what happens on it?  I don't understand. 

This is the EU isn't it?  Treaty of Rome and all that?