agri-environmental measures

8/30/05 The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania 1

Agri-Environmental measuresAgri-Environmental measures

Jolita RuzgienėJolita Ruzgienė

Nature Protection DepartmentNature Protection Department

Ministry of EnvironmentMinistry of Environment

Bonn, GermanyBonn, Germany


Lithuania at a glanceLithuania at a glance

• Area: 65.3 thousands Area: 65.3 thousands sq. kmsq. km

• 97 % of total territory 97 % of total territory is ruralis rural

• Population: 3,462 Population: 3,462 millionmillion

• 33 % of total 33 % of total population is rural population is rural (1,145 million)(1,145 million)


Agri-Environmental measures (The Order of the Minister of Agriculture No. 3D-482

of August 13, 2004)

Intended allocations (million EUR) for 2004-2006

Measures

2004 2005 2006 2004-2006

Total

EU Total

EU Total

EU Total

EU

Agri-Environ

ment

15,000 12,000 20,200 16,160 27,000 21,600 62,200 49,760


Objectives of the Agri-Objectives of the Agri-Environmental measuresEnvironmental measures

• Improvement of the environment (water quality, biodiversity, Improvement of the environment (water quality, biodiversity, soil and landscape; preservation of semi-natural agricultural soil and landscape; preservation of semi-natural agricultural habitats and other important ecological important areas) and habitats and other important ecological important areas) and production of healthy food;production of healthy food;

• Improvement of the quality of surface and underground Improvement of the quality of surface and underground water;water;

• Reduction of negative impact on the environment of plant Reduction of negative impact on the environment of plant protection products;protection products;

• Restoration or preservation of the traditional landscape of Restoration or preservation of the traditional landscape of the Lithuanian countryside (meadows, marshes (wetlands));the Lithuanian countryside (meadows, marshes (wetlands));

• Production of good quality agricultural products;Production of good quality agricultural products;• Keep of rear local endangered breeds of native domestic Keep of rear local endangered breeds of native domestic

animals on farms. animals on farms.


BeneficiariesBeneficiaries

• Farmers;Farmers;• agricultural companies;agricultural companies;• private or legal persons on own or tenant private or legal persons on own or tenant

land (land lease contract must be signed at land (land lease contract must be signed at least for the duration of 5 years).least for the duration of 5 years).


Requirements for beneficiaries:Requirements for beneficiaries:• Size of the owned or leased farm must be minimum Size of the owned or leased farm must be minimum

of 1 hectare;of 1 hectare;• Agricultural holding must be registered in the Agricultural holding must be registered in the

Agriculture and Rural Development Register;Agriculture and Rural Development Register;• Shall accept all the agri-environmental obligations Shall accept all the agri-environmental obligations

for at least five years’ duration;for at least five years’ duration;• Fill-in a standard application form and undertake to Fill-in a standard application form and undertake to

meet the requirements laid down in the Scheme;meet the requirements laid down in the Scheme;• Shall commit to adhere the requirements of the Shall commit to adhere the requirements of the

Good Farming Practice at the farm (under the Order Good Farming Practice at the farm (under the Order of the Minister of Agriculture No. 3D-432 of July 16, of the Minister of Agriculture No. 3D-432 of July 16, 2004).2004).


Scope of the Measures:Scope of the Measures:

• Protection shore belts of surface water Protection shore belts of surface water bodies in meadows and arable land and bodies in meadows and arable land and prevention of the soil erosion;prevention of the soil erosion;

• Landscape Stewardship Scheme;Landscape Stewardship Scheme;• Organic Farming Scheme;Organic Farming Scheme;• Rare Breeds Scheme.Rare Breeds Scheme.


Protection shore belts of surface water bodies (WBs)

Specific requirements:Specific requirements:

● Protection shore belts of surface WB shall be installed on the Protection shore belts of surface WB shall be installed on the banks of natural or regulated rivers and streams, melioration banks of natural or regulated rivers and streams, melioration ditches, the shores of lakes and quarries ;ditches, the shores of lakes and quarries ;● The total length of protection shore belts along a WB must be The total length of protection shore belts along a WB must be at least 50 metres;at least 50 metres;● All surface WB in farm should be covered by the action;All surface WB in farm should be covered by the action;● Protective shore belt in meadows and in arable land shall Protective shore belt in meadows and in arable land shall include the obligatory protection shore belt and additional include the obligatory protection shore belt and additional extension according with this scheme, which has to be marked extension according with this scheme, which has to be marked on farm map.on farm map.


Protection shore belts of surface water bodies

Applicant shall:Applicant shall:

● Grazing on the protection belts and on the slopes of the Grazing on the protection belts and on the slopes of the shores of surface WB is prohibited; shores of surface WB is prohibited; ● Ploughing, use of fertilisers, use of plant protection products, Ploughing, use of fertilisers, use of plant protection products, cutting of trees on the protection belt is prohibited; cutting of trees on the protection belt is prohibited; ● Grass mowing shall be made once a year;Grass mowing shall be made once a year;● Remove mowed grass and cut bushes from the protection Remove mowed grass and cut bushes from the protection belt or the slope of the shores of surface WB not later than the belt or the slope of the shores of surface WB not later than the 15th of October each year.15th of October each year.


Landscape Stewardship Scheme


● actions shall be applied only in meadows, marshes actions shall be applied only in meadows, marshes (wetlands);(wetlands);● minimum 0.5 ha of the land should be covered by the action.minimum 0.5 ha of the land should be covered by the action.


Landscape Stewardship Scheme


● not to use pesticides and fertilizers in meadows marshes not to use pesticides and fertilizers in meadows marshes (wetlands), move them every year, start of moving not earlier (wetlands), move them every year, start of moving not earlier than the 15th of August, but not later than 30th of September;than the 15th of August, but not later than 30th of September;● preserve traditional biotypes in the meadows by not ploughing preserve traditional biotypes in the meadows by not ploughing and re-sowing with cultural grass species;and re-sowing with cultural grass species;● retain isolated trees in meadows, cut bushes;retain isolated trees in meadows, cut bushes;● not to graze in the marshes (wetlands);not to graze in the marshes (wetlands);● to remove mowed grass and cut bushes;to remove mowed grass and cut bushes;● not to install new drain systems near marshes, ponds, not to install new drain systems near marshes, ponds, situated on the farm.situated on the farm.


Organic farming scheme


Organic farming certificate, issued by the competent Organic farming certificate, issued by the competent certification body, shall be presentedcertification body, shall be presented


Organic farming scheme

Applicant shall: Applicant shall:

● follow the rules of organic production in accordance with the follow the rules of organic production in accordance with the national legal requirements of organic farming and national legal requirements of organic farming and requirements of the EU Regulation 2092/91;requirements of the EU Regulation 2092/91;● yearly present certificate of organic farming;yearly present certificate of organic farming;● not to reduce certified area of organic farm; not to reduce certified area of organic farm; ● yearly declare tillage. yearly declare tillage.


Rare Breeds Scheme


● The participant shall participate in breeding programme;The participant shall participate in breeding programme;● The participant shall present note from competent authorities The participant shall present note from competent authorities regarding the number of supported animals.regarding the number of supported animals.


Rare Breeds Scheme


● keep number of animals (Zemaitukai horses, Lithuanian Black keep number of animals (Zemaitukai horses, Lithuanian Black and White cattle, etc.) indicated in a commitment;and White cattle, etc.) indicated in a commitment;● follow animal health and zoohygiene requirements, also follow animal health and zoohygiene requirements, also animal welfare standards; animal welfare standards; ● yearly present note from competent authorities regarding the yearly present note from competent authorities regarding the number of rare breeds animals in the farm.number of rare breeds animals in the farm.


In 2004 is set-up implementation:

• Organic Farming Scheme (1018 applications);Organic Farming Scheme (1018 applications);• Rare Breeds Scheme (266 applications).Rare Breeds Scheme (266 applications).

Intended allocations 8,3 million EUR Intended allocations 8,3 million EUR


In 2005 is set-up implementation:

● Protection shore belts of surface water bodies in meadows and arable land and prevention of soil erosion Scheme (11 applications);

● Landscape Stewardship Scheme (101 applications);• Organic Farming Scheme (689 applications);Organic Farming Scheme (689 applications);• Rare Breeds Scheme (56 applications).Rare Breeds Scheme (56 applications).

Intended allocations 9,01 million EUR Intended allocations 9,01 million EUR

August 30, 2005 The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania 18

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

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