NATURE CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES IN GERMANY – Workshop 23.11.2006, Predeal TWINNING RO2004/IB/EN/09 NATURA 2000 STRATEGY FOR CONSERVATION-ORIENTED LAND USE

NATURE CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES IN GERMANY – Workshop 23.11.2006, Predeal

TWINNING RO2004/IB/EN/09NATURA 2000

STRATEGY FOR CONSERVATION-ORIENTED LAND USE IN GERMANY

Conservation-oriented land use, especially regarding the requirements of Natura 2000, is one of the most important instruments of nature conservation and landscape management in Germany

Goal:• Conserve or restore diversity depending on specific site

conditions and differentiated land use• Thereby securing habitats of plant and animal species

Methods:• landscape management and nature conservation measures• conservation-oriented land use in cultural landscapes



Financial instruments for conservation-oriented land use and nature conservation measures in Natura 2000-sites

Programmes with EU co-financing• European Agricultural Fund for Regional Development (EAFRD,

German ELER): agri-environmental and aqua-environmental programmes

• LIFE-Nature; LIFE +• INTERREG• Leader +

Federal programmes• Projects of nationwide interest for nature conservation • Research-, development and experimental projects

State programmes (e.g.)• Bayern Netz Natur• Nature conservation guideline in Saxony

Special Funds (e.g.)• Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, Naturschutzfonds (BY), LANU

(Saxony)



Goals and criteria for conservation-oriented land useand nature conservation programmes

Target areas for these programmes are:

• Natura 2000-Areas (Sites of community interest - SCI and Special protection areas - SPA)

• Nature reserves and natural monuments

• Legally protected biotopes

• Buffer zones for sensitive (esp. aquatic) habitats

• Areas of importance for habitat and biotope connection

• Habitats of threatened species (e.g. species from Annexes II und IV of the Habitat Directive, Annex I of Bird Directive, highly threatened or endangered species – Red List category 1 or 2)



Overview on conservation-oriented land useand nature conservation programmes (VNP) in Bavaria per

district

Total area VNP: XXX haAs per: July 2006



Agri-environmental measuresAqua-environmental measuresForest-environmental measuresNature conservation measuresOther programmes

Goals and criteria for conservation-oriented land useand nature conservation programmes

Target areas for nature-oriented land use and nature conservation measures in Saxony comprise about 78.000 ha



Who is eligible?• Farmers• Fishermen• Nature conservation societies • Private owners• Municipal structures• Religious communities

Who is responsible?• Nature conservation agencies

– evaluate nature conservation criteria, choose appropriate measures

– control fulfilment of nature conservation goals – handout subsidies for nature conservation programmes

• Agricultural agencies– control agricultural land use, land parcels etc.– handout subsidies for agri-environmental measures

Participation and responsibilities in agri-environmental and nature conservation programmes



Conservation-oriented land use within the agri-environmental programme

(EAFRD/ELER)



Goals of conservation-oriented land use within the agri-environmental programme (EAFRD/ELER)

In highly productive agricultural areas (good soils, intensively used grassland and arable land):

- agree to conservation-oriented farming practices to counteract intensification,- adapt farming practices to specific conservation goals.

In disadvantaged agricultural areas (mountains, low soil quality,often Natura 2000-sites):

- agree to conservation-orientedfarming practices to conserve habitats which have been created by extensive land use- to counteract cessation of agricultural use (e.g. in mountain meadows).

The programme has two main goals:



• No application of herbicides in the sense of VO (EWG) No. 2092/91

• No construction or restoration of drainage and irrigation systems (exceptions only in agreement with nature conservation agencies)

• Permanent use of grassland without ploughing

• Presentation of land use areas (land parcels – LPIS) in digital form or other map formats

• Exact documentation of all measures on the selected areas in relation to the land parcels

• No deposition of any material on the selected areas

• Agreement to control or monitoring investigations by state agencies or contracted researchers

• Fallow areas cover only up to a maximum of 5% of selected area

Prerequisites for participation in conservation-oriented agri-environmental programmes (EAFRD/ELER)



Planned programme elements of agri-environmental programmes (EAFRD/ELER) in Bavaria 2007-2013 regarding

grassland1. Biotope type “ Arable land”

Basic performances1.1 Extensive arable land use for soil breeding bird species and wild herbs

no cultivation of corn, sugar, potatoes, tree foil, lucerne (alfalfa)

Euro 153,00-350,00/ha (depending on soil type)

1.2 Fallow area on arable land with natural growth of wild herbs (no seeding)Euro 178,00; Euro 370,00; Euro 450,00 (depending on soil type)

Additional performances0.1 No fertilizing and chemical herbicides Euro 314,00/ha0.2 No mineral and organic fertilizers (only solid organic fertilizer) and chemical herbicides Euro 261,00/ha 0.3 Increased labour and machine force needed Euro 35,00 – 220,00/ha




grassland2. Biotope type “Grassland” - management with reduced intensityBasic performances• Conservation-oriented use of meadows without fertilizing and herbicides

first cut after June 1st Euro 86,00/hafirst cut after June 15th Euro 163,00/ha

first cut after July or August 1st Euro 186,00/hafirst cut after September 1st Euro 239,00/ha

• Protection of beaver habitats*•no mowing until August 31st Euro 186,00/ha for meadows with 2 cuts•no mowing until August 31st Euro 319,00/ha for meadows with 3 cuts

Additional performances0.1 No fertilizing and herbicides Euro 178,00 0.2 No mineral and organic fertilizers (only solid organic fertilizer) Euro 119,00/ha 0.3 Increased labour and machine force needed Euro 45,00 – 650,00/ha

* Not to be combined with any ‘additional performances’




grassland

3. Biotope type “Pasture land” - Conservation-oriented management of traditional pasture landscapes with reduced intensity

Basic performancesexploitation of pastures with sheep, gooses or horses Euro 270,00/ha

exploitation of pastures with cows Euro 118,00 – 289,00/ha

Additional aspects

0.3 Increased labour and machine force needed Euro 50,00 – 345,00/ha




grassland

4. Biotop type “ponds”

Basic performances4.1 Conservation of ecologically valuable ponds

by reducing the quantity of carps and soil disturbing fish species

subsidy according to share cane brake zone (Röhrichtzone)stage A: - 25% Euro 484,00/hastage B: 26-50% Euro 550,00/hastage C: > 51% Euro 464,00/ ha

Additional aspects*0.3 Conservation and development of amphibian and dragon fly habitats:No use of predatory fisch and fish cultivation from 01.03 to 15.09. Euro 75,00/ha

* Only possible with 4.1



CONSERVATION-ORIENTED LAND USE AND NATURE CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES IN SAXONY

- Financial instruments for implementing Natura 2000

- Programmes and measures, criteria

- Responsibilities of stakeholders

- Details of selected programmes

- Chances and limitations

Dipl.-Ing. Marianne Badura – Twinning expert GermanyE-mail: [email protected]

Data for Federal State of Saxony from: Dr. Bernard Hachmöller, RP Dresden



Planned programme elements of agri-environmental programmes (EAFRD/ELER) in Saxony 2007-2013 regarding

grassland• Grassland management with reduced intensitya) pasture b) meadow

• Conservation-oriented use of meadows without fertilizing before the first cut

• Conservation-oriented use of meadows without fertilizinga) first cut after June 15th b) first cut after July 15th

• Conservation-oriented use of meadows without fertilizing • three cuts for nutrient reduction

• Conservation-oriented use of meadows without fertilizing • no mowing between June 10th and September 15th

• Conservation-oriented pasture• Free-range sheep pasture

a) for grassland b) for other habitats (e.g. heath)

• Large-scale pastures used over the whole year• Management of orchard meadows (mowing or grazing, tree clipping)• Fallow areas and strips in grassland



Regulations for conservation-oriented use of meadows without fertilizing before the first cut

• at least one cut per year

• Removal of biomass

• No use of nitrogen fertilizers before the first cut

• First cut after 15.6.

• Finish of first cut including removal of biomass before 31.7.

• Additional seeding only after agreement of the nature conservation agency

• Additional grazing after 1.8. possible

Conservation-oriented use of meadows in Saxony 2007-2013



Regulations for conservation-oriented use of meadows without fertilizing



• No use of nitrogen fertilizers

• First cut

– after 15.6. /after 15.7.

• Finish of first cut including removal of biomass – before 31.7./before 31.8.


• Additional grazing after 1.8. possible




Regulations for conservation-oriented use of meadows without fertilizing – three cuts for nutrient removal

• at least three cuts per year



• First cut after 1.6.

• Completion of first cut including removal of biomass before 1.7.





Regulations for Conservation-oriented use of meadows without fertilizing - no cutting between 10 June and 15 September




• First cut before 10th June

• Second cut after 15th September

• No mechanical treatment of the soil surface





Regulations:

• Grazing at least once a year


• Not more than 4 „cattle units“/ha

• No additional feeding

• Agreement on type of animal species

with the nature conservation agency

• Development on a grazing plan in agreement with the nature conservation agency

• At least 0,3 ha

Conservation-oriented pasture in Saxony 2007-2013



Regulations for conservation-oriented free-range sheep pasture:

• No use of nitrogen fertilizers• No additional feeding• Development on a grazing plan

in agreement with the nature conservation agency• Herds of sheep and/or goats

Regulations for conservation-oriented large-scale pastures used over the whole year:

• From 0,3 to 0,6 “cattle units”/ha• No use of nitrogen fertilizers• Additional feeding only between December 15th and April 15th

and only with hay• Development of wooded areas possible• At least 10 ha

Conservation-oriented pasture in Saxony 2007-2013




arable land• Feeding habitat in winter

(no ploughing until February 15th)

• No cultivation in spring/ reproductive habitat for birds/amphibians

(March 1st – April 30th)

• Fallow areas and strips in arable land (mowing or ploughing every 2nd year, up to 5 ha)

• Conservation-oriented use of arable land with reduction of herbicides and specified cultures

(ploughing after September 15th, up to 10 ha)




ponds• Pond management

• Conservation-oriented pond management with restrictions on intensity

• Conservation-oriented pond management with restrictions on intensity and special protection measures for species and communities

• Conservation-oriented pond management with special protection measures for species and communities

• Increased fish input

• Maintenance of pond habitats without use



Prerequisites for participation in conservation-oriented pond management in Saxony 2007-2013

• Exact documentation of all measures on the selected areas in relation to the land parcels

• No use of biocides• No input of aquarium fish, no farming of waterfowl (including feeding)• No commercial recreational activities (swimming, boat rental, angling)• No construction of buildings in the shore area and on dams• No construction of walls except for the outflow • Changes in shore structures or removal of underwater or floating vegetation

only after agreement of the nature conservation agency• Creating conditions for saving and safely deporting amphibians and wild fish

when fish is harvested• Calcification and disinfection in agreement with the nature conservation

agency• Management measures in accordance to a management plan developed in

agreement with fishery and nature conservation agencies• Monitoring and evaluation of the ponds by the nature conservation agency



Guideline for funding nature conservation measures to secure natural biological

diversity and the natural rural heritage in Saxony

(Nature conservation guideline)



Goal of the „Nature conservation guideline“ in Saxony

Sustainable conservation of natural biological diversity and

natural rural heritage by

conservation and development of habitats or populations of wild animal and plants species,

typical landscape elements and the historically grown diversity of the

cultural landscape



Nature conservation measures funded by the „Nature conservation guideline“ in Saxony

Management of protected biotopes/habitats

Improvement, regeneration or creation of protected biotopes/habitats

Planning and Management of nature conservation measures

Investment (i.e. mowing technology)

Securing of land (i.e. purchase) for nature conservation purposes (by NGOs)

Management of nature reserves or protected species

Public information campaigns

Complex nature conservation projects



Management of habitats/biotopes according to the „Nature conservation guideline“ in Saxony

• Specific nature conservation measures for grassland, arable land and ponds as well as other valuable habitats Measures not covered by the agri-

environmental programme, i.e. mowing with special technology or by hand

• Management and clearing of bush and shrub to secure and maintain threatened and protected landscape elements, biotopes and species

• Conservation measures to secure protected and threatened species including their habitats and measures to avoid damage by these species



Improvement, regeneration or creation of protected biotopes/habitats

according to the „Nature conservation guideline“ in Saxony• Improvement, regeneration or creation of

threatened or protected biotopes, habitats or landscape elements i.e. regeneration or reconstruction of

grassland, heath, ponds or rivers

• Management, planting trees or clearing bush and shrub to regenerate or create threatened and protected landscape elements, biotopes and species

• Conservation measures to regenerate threatened and protected species including their habitats i.e. ex-situ and in-situ cultivation of rare

species



Management of nature reserves or protected species according to the „Nature conservation guideline“ in Saxony

Management, surveillance and documentation of selected protected areas which require regular public presence to secure the conservation goals by their importance, location, structure through:

Information and care for visitors to increase public acceptance

Monitoring of damage/threats for protected areas

Planning and documentation of conservation, management and development measures in the protected areas

Information and consulting for land users about possible nature conservation measures

Documentation of threatened and protected habitats and populations of threatened and protected species

Regular reporting to the nature conservation agency

Qualified yearly report about the management measures and their results



Areas covered by agri-environmental and nature conservation measures in the Eastern Ore Mountains

Mesophilic meadow

Mountain meadow

Pasture

Nature conservation

Wet meadow



Overlap of areas covered by agro-environmental and nature conservation measures in the Eastern Ore Mountains

with protected areas of European importance

SPA „Fürstenau“

SCI and SPA „Geisingberg“

SCI „Müglitztal“

SCI „Grenzwiesen Fürstenau“

SPA „Kahleberg“

SCI „Mittelgebirgs-landschaft um Oelsen“



Corncrake Common snipe

Whinchat

Overlap of areas covered by agri-environmental and nature conservation measures in the Eastern Ore Mountains

with occurence of threatened bird species



100

1000

10000

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005Summe oberes Osterzgeb. ohne Alt-NSG Geisingwiesen und NSG Großer GalgenteichNSG Großer GalgenteichBekassinenwiese JohnsbachGeisingberg Fl. 586NSG Oelsen

Development of populations of the orchid Dactylorhiza majalis

in protected areas of the Eastern Ore mountains



10

100

1000

10000

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Haselleite Glashütte

Geisingberg Fl. 673Summe NSG Geisingberg ohne Fl. 673

Development of populations of the orchid Orchis mascula in protected areas of the Eastern Ore mountains



Multumesc! – Vielen Dank!

Documents

NATURE CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES IN GERMANY – Workshop 23.11.2006, Predeal TWINNING RO2004/IB/EN/09 NATURA 2000 STRATEGY FOR CONSERVATION-ORIENTED LAND USE