RD measures working for nature?

Gábor Figeczky

WWF Hungary

One year of EU 25 05 09 2005, Bonn

• to increase the air-purifying, carbon-dioxide absorbing, soil protection and water management regulating, etc. beneficial impacts of new forests that affect the environmental conditions of the entire Central European Region;

• to enrich biodiversity by establishing close-to-nature forests, to preserve the natural components of the rural landscape, and to facilitate appealing landscape appearance;

Objectives for the afforestation scheme I.

• to improve the quality of forests and their protective functions;

• to improve the state of environment, and the water management, by increasing the forest cover of the under forested Great Plain and the flood area of Tisza.

Objectives for the afforestation scheme II.

Budget

Ratio of funds allocated to different EAGGF Guarantee measures

Agri-environment

LFA

Meeting standards

Afforestation

Early retirement

Semi-subsistance farming

Producer groups

Technical assistance

SAPARD

Establishment, maintenance, premium for loss of income

Total budget for 3 years: 79.7 m€

10.6% of total NRDP budget

• huge plantations of non-native species (black locust, hybrid poplar etc.) cause loss of biodiversity (50% and growing)

• protected forests are not managed for biodiversity but for profit

• improper game management

• no biodiversity indicators for planning/ monitoring

Environmental problems in forests

• substantial differentiation between grants for planting native and non-native (especially fast-growing) tree species

• no aid should be given to compensate for damage caused by game

• no aid should be given to prevent surface ground water, use suitable species instead

Recommendations to improve the measure I.

• supplemenrary aid for planting mixed stands of native species that increase biodiversity

• supplementary aid for plantations in protected areas and green corridors carried out according to plans of the nature conservation authority

• supplementary aid for planting shelter belts

Recommendations to improve the measure II.

• agroforestry measures

• development of Good Forestry Practices

• Natura 2000 payments

• environmental training for foresters

Other possible tools to preserve natural assets in forests

• support for the on-going monitoring and evaluation

(including studies, workshops and seminars) of the

Programme;

• to support the preparation of potential beneficiaries of

the other NRDP measures, with special regard to the

citizens living in underprivileged areas, informing the

• citizens of disadvantaged groups and providing

information to the public in line with Commission

Regulation (EC) No.1159/2000;

Training (TA)

• liaison with the representatives of social partners,

especially with the local and/or micro-regional

representatives of disadvantaged groups (especially

Romas, women and unemployed people in the remote

areas, especially villages under 500 inhabitants);

• provision of information and publicity on the

programme, ensuring the controllability of actions

and activities eligible for support.

Training (TA)

5% of total NRDP budget

Budget

Ratio of funds allocated to different EAGGF Guarantee measures

Agri-environment

LFA

Meeting standards

Afforestation

Early retirement

Semi-subsistance farming

Producer groups

Technical assistance

SAPARD

• Agricultural chambers

• Village extension services

• Managers of small regions

• Agri-environmental advisors

• Natural Parks (HNV areas)

• Private advisors (specialized)

Current bodies working as extension services

Holistic advisory services (integration of different measures, complementarity, synergic effects)

Involve NGOs in implementation

Farmers should be encouraged to preserve natural values in a collaborative way

Different advisory boards should act in a co-ordinated way

Recommendations for implementation