Farmland Birds and Agri-Environment Schemes in the New Member States
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Farmland birds and agri-environment schemes in the New Member States A Report for the RSPB September 2006 Farmland birds and agri-environment schemes in the New Member States A Report for the RSPB Clunie Keenleyside in association with Jaanus Elts, Gábor Figeczky, Bohumil Fier, Dobromil Galvánek, Martin Hellicar, Lasma Ira, Marek Jobda, Pille Koorberg, Constantinos Kounnamas, Petras Kurlaviius, Boris Maderiè, Andrej Medved, Dorota Metera, Tomasz Pezold, Jnis Priednieks, Edmunds Rainskis, Liutaurus Raudonikis, Zsolt Szilvácsku, Rta Vaiinait and Václav Zámecník October 2006 We would like to thank Marcus Gilleard, Giovanna Pisano, Fiona Sanderson, Lucy Arnold and Mark Redman for their assistance in the preparation of this report. Citation and disclaimer This report should be quoted as follows: Keenleyside C., et al (2006) Farmland birds and agri-environment schemes in the New Member States A report for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. RSPB, Sandy, UK. This report was produced by the authors on behalf of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). The views expressed within the report are those of the contractor and do not necessarily reflect the views of the RSPB. Important Unless other sources are cited the information in this chapter is from a questionnaire survey of local experts in spring/summer 2006, when the proposals for the 2007-13 programmes were still being developed. CREX is an independent consultancy owned by Clunie Keenleyside and specialising in European agricultural, environmental and rural development policy. She has worked on a wide range of rural land management issues in the UK and other EU countries including Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and the Czech Republic. Before setting up her own business in 2002 she held senior advisory posts in the government countryside agencies in England and Wales. Cover photograph Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) © Copyright to this report is the property of the RSPB CONTENTS Commentary by BirdLife International 1 Executive Summary 3 1 Introduction to the study 12 2 Background to implementation of EU policy in the New Member States 14 3 Significance of farmland bird populations in the New Member States 16 4 Threats to farmland habitats and opportunities to improve management for biodiversity 19 5 Farmland birds - policy context and drivers 27 6 Implementing 2007-13 agri-environment schemes for the benefit of birds in nine new Member States 31 7 Cyprus 44 8 The Czech Republic 58 9 Estonia 65 10 Hungary 71 11 Latvia 83 12 Lithuania 93 13 Poland 102 14 Slovakia 112 15 Slovenia 117 16 Conclusions and recommendations 124 ANNEXES 132 ANNEX 1 Summary of EAFRD measures 133 ANNEX 2 Evaluating agri-environment schemes in Estonia 136 ANNEX 3 Annex 1 birds associated with IBA farmland habitats 137 Annex 4 Protected farmland birds and habitats in the New Member States 139 Glossary Species which are the subject of special habitat conservation Annex 1 birds measures under Article 4.1 of the Birds Directive EAFRD rural development support for improving the competitiveness Axis 1 of the agriculture and forestry sector EAFRD rural development support for improving the environment and Axis 2 the countryside EAFRD rural development support for improving the quality of life in Axis 3 rural areas and diversification of the rural economy Axis 4 EAFRD rural development support for Leader BVG Biologically valuable grasslands CAP Common Agricultural Policy European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (Council EAFRD Regulation 1698/2005) IBA Important Bird Area LFA Less Favoured Area LU or LSU Livestock unit European Union network of sites designated by Member States under Natura 2000 the Birds Directive and Habitats Directive. NMS New Member State Pan European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme, a partnership involving the European Bird Census Council, the Royal Society for the PECBMS Protection of Birds, BirdLife International and Statistics Netherlands that aims to deliver policy relevant biodiversity indicators for Europe. RDP Rural Development Plan RSPB Royal Society for the Protection of Birds SOP Sectoral Operational Programme SPA Special Protection Area designated under the Birds Directive UAA Utilised Agricultural Area WFD Water Framework Directive Commentary by BirdLife International Central, Eastern and Southern Europe harbour an important biodiversity resource, the direct result of having retained large areas of High Nature Value (HNV) habitat, especially low- intensity farmland. In particular, the region is home to a disproportionate share of the EU’s farmland birds, including the globally threatened Aquatic Warbler and Corncrake, and other species of conservation concern, such as the Roller, Lesser Grey Shrike and Great Bustard. Farmland birds are important, not just for their own sake, but for what they tell us about the health of the countryside. BirdLife International is striving to ensure the EU’s New Member States (NMS) do not experience the same dramatic decline in these and other once-common farmland birds and other wildlife that the EU15 have witnessed over the last 20-30 years; agri- environment schemes are a key tool for achieving this. This wealth of biodiversity is at risk, not only from agricultural intensification, but also from land abandonment, as the region continues to adapt its agricultural infrastructure and management in response to EU policies and historical events. The mixed, traditionally farmed landscape and HNV grasslands on which these species flourish is highly threatened, and more sustainable rural policies – particularly a reformed CAP – could help address this. Although large areas have been designated for protection under the EU’s Natura 2000 network, the region is now entering a phase that brings with it new environmental pressures. The NMS are in the midst of finalising their rural development programmes for 2007-2013, and we can assume that the focus and funding of these will reflect the region’s desire to increase farm competitiveness and bolster rural economies. These countries should demonstrate that any such move is compatible with the protection of biodiversity. In particular, the proper design, targeting, implementation and monitoring of agri-environment schemes and other rural development measures is fundamental to supporting and making low-input farming commercially viable, vital for the conservation of farmland birds and other wildlife. Meeting this challenge also critically depends on ensuring sufficient funds for doing so. Despite the requirement to spend a higher proportion of the rural development budget allocation on land management, the continued obligation to make agri-environment schemes available, and the EU strategic priority to integrate biodiversity and preservation of HNV farming systems, there are no guarantees that sufficient funds will be targeted to adequately conserve and enhance biodiversity resources. This problem is compounded by the fact that there is little guarantee that any existing agri-environment schemes will be improved, with funds directed at schemes likely to offer little benefit to birds. The few effective schemes that do exist will continue to suffer from a lack of uptake, primarily due to competing objectives and insufficient interest. Agri-environment schemes have been criticised for their value for money and effectiveness in achieving biodiversity targets, particularly by the European Court of Auditors. Such schemes have been applied in Europe long enough to draw lessons from their design and implementation. Indeed, this report makes the case that well-designed agri-environment schemes are both possible and essential to meet EU commitments; and need proper funding as we move forward into the 2007-2013 programming period. The European Commission has a responsibility to ensure the new rural development programmes in the NMS adequately address the needs of biodiversity and employ EU funds in the most effective ways. For some time, BirdLife Partners have been working with Agriculture Departments throughout Europe to help develop schemes that address biodiversity decline, and to ensure they deliver on their objectives and demonstrate value for money. This progress must continue unabated. A fundamental difference exists between the way the agricultural sector has developed across the EU15 and what we know to be the more desirable model for developing sustainable agriculture, and the NMS are not yet committed to making the policy mistakes of the EU15. The new rural development programmes should deliver a more sophisticated, integrated and sustainable policy framework resulting in environmental, social and economic benefits that reach far beyond the farm sector. This report suggests that this is not being 1 recognised: in the rhetoric around the role of the CAP in accession, or in the design of rural development programmes and, particularly, agri-environment schemes. Whilst some progress is being made, it reinforces BirdLife’s argument for introducing a coherent funding package to meet the needs of HNV farming communities, the foundation of which is a tiered approach to agri-environment schemes, with general options helping common species and ecosystems, and specialist measures targeted at rare species. The report clearly shows that without properly designed and targeted agri-environment schemes, the delivery of specialist training and advice for farmers, and sufficient funds and competitive payments rates, many species will be pushed ever closer to the brink of extinction. Evidence suggests that the