Agri-Environmental measures

1. Jolita Ruzgienė Nature Protection Department Ministry of Environment Bonn, Germany Agri-Environmental measures

2. Lithuania at a glance • Area: 65.3 thousands sq. km • 97 % of total territory is rural • Population: 3,462 million • 33 % of total population is rural (1,145 million)

3. Agri-Environmental measures (The Order of the Minister of Agriculture No. 3D-482 of August 13, 2004)Intended allocations (million EUR) for 2004-2006

4. Objectives of the Agri-Environmental measures Improvement of the environment (water quality, biodiversity, soil and landscape; preservation of semi-natural agricultural habitats and other important ecological important areas) and production of healthy food; Improvement of the quality of surface and underground water; Reduction of negative impact on the environment of plant protection products; Restoration or preservation of the traditional landscape of the Lithuanian countryside (meadows, marshes (wetlands)); Production of good quality agricultural products; Keep of rear local endangered breeds of native domestic animals on farms.

5. Beneficiaries Farmers; agricultural companies; private or legal persons on own or tenant land (land lease contract must be signed at least for the duration of 5 years).

6. Requirements for beneficiaries: Size of the owned or leased farm must be minimum of 1 hectare; Agricultural holding must be registered in the Agriculture and Rural Development Register; Shall accept all the agri-environmental obligations for at least five years’ duration; Fill-in a standard application form and undertake to meet the requirements laid down in the Scheme; Shall commit to adhere the requirements of the Good Farming Practice at the farm (under the Order of the Minister of Agriculture No. 3D-432 of July 16, 2004).

7. Scope of the Measures: Protection shore belts of surface water bodies in meadows and arable land and prevention of the soil erosion; Landscape Stewardship Scheme; Organic Farming Scheme; Rare Breeds Scheme.

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

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

10. Landscape Stewardship Scheme Specific requirements: actions shall be applied only in meadows, marshes (wetlands); minimum 0.5 ha of the land should be covered by the action.

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

12. Organic farming scheme Specific requirements: Organic farming certificate, issued by the competent certification body, shall be presented

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

14. Rare Breeds Scheme Specific requirements: The participant shall participate in breeding programme; The participant shall present note from competent authorities regarding the number of supported animals.

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

16. In 2004 is set-up implementation: Organic Farming Scheme (1018 applications); Rare Breeds Scheme (266 applications). Intended allocations 8,3 million EUR

17. 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); Rare Breeds Scheme (56 applications). Intended allocations 9,01 million EUR

18. Thank you for your attention!