Rural Development Fund in Wallonia, Natura 2000 and Biodiversity Financing Natura 2000 workshop Belgium Th. Walot (UCL-ELIA)

1.Walloon Rural Development Programme (WRDP) 2.Natura 2000 measures in WRDP: N2000 payments and habitat recovery payments 3.AEM in WRDP: N2000 agricultural habitat management and nature development Conclusions Content

EAFRD– AxisEAFRD budget Million euros 1. Economic performance improvement 68 – Environment and rural area improvement Quality of life improvement and economical diversification Leader Technical assistance Total Walloon EAFRD Walloon Rural Development Programme CAP pie-chart – EAFRD axes Walloon CAP budget ( st & 2nd pilars) =2, 263 billion € EAFRD= 233 million €

AxisMain measuresBiodiversity/N2000 ? 1. Economic performance improvement Support to investment & to young farmers No 2. Environment and rural area improvement -AE payments -Less favourised areas payments -N2000 payments (agriculture, forestry) -Unproductive investments Yes No Yes Yes (banks fencing) 3. Quality of life improvement and economical diversification Tourism promotion, rural cultural heritage, non agricultural diversification, … Some (N2000 habitat restoration) 4. LeaderLocal projects: mobility, tourism, employment, cultural heritage …. Poor (ecological network promotion) 1. WRDP Main measures – Link with N2000/biodiversity?

1.Walloon Rural Development Programme Environment and rural area axis Total Walloon EAFDR budget = 233,2 million € Environmental « axis 2 »: 153 M € Biodiversity/N2000 expenses in Environmental axis: 132 M€ (>80%)

75 % FORESTS 15 % AGRICULTURE 2. Natura 2000 payments and habitat recovery payments in WRDP 2.1. N Some landmarks 13% of Wallonia, ha, farmers, landowners

N2000: Habitats maps with 15 main « Management Units » in relation with ecological characteristics and management prescriptions

« Aquatic management unit » MU 1

« Open space habitat unit » e.g. hay meadow Management Unit 2

r « Animal habitat unit » MU 3 e.g. Lanius collurio (red backed shrike) Photo J.-P. Winants

High priority forest MU6

Type of specifications Compensation payments (€)/year x ha) EAFRD contributions (€ ) Agricultural plots No ploughing, no fertilisation, no mowing before 15 of June, … Forestry plots Quota of old and dead trees should be left « unharvested »; mixed forest edges mandatory, … N2000 payments – Why?, How much?

2.3. Habitat restoration payments Why? To improve conservation status of N2000 habitats e.g. chalk grasslands, moors, alluvial wet meadows, great crested newt ponds, …. What for? Bushes clearing, fencing, spruces felling, filling of ditches, digging of ponds, …

Ecological restoration of N2000 habitats

2.3. Habitat restoration payments IMPLEMENTATION? « Ambitious project » (budget 9 million €) BUT Very poor implementation (spendings: € - 15% of budget), roughly 100 ongoing files = circa 200 ha) WHY? -« Spruce lobby » -Late and unstable regional legislation -Laconic support from public authorities Personal point of view

2.4. River and brook bank fencing in pastures Aim: Ecological quality of water and banks

2.4. River and brook bank fencing in pastures Should currently being implemented Budget: €

3. Agri-environmental scheme Aims of the scheme: -Management of HNV areas and nature development -Protection of natural resources (water, soil) -Protection of endangered agricultural breeds -Farm scale: general environment improvment

3. Agri-environmental scheme –Biodiversity impact ranking Methods0=>10 1 Hedge conservation4 2 Tree, bush, small wood conservation8 3 Pond conservation8 4 Natural pasture/hay meadow7 5 Grass strip in arable land7 6 Extensive grass strip in pasture or hay meadow5 7. Autumn cover crop1 8. Extensive cereal farming2 9. Low livestock density (farm level)7 10. High natural value hay meadow and pasture Field strips for flora fauna and landscape in arable land 10 Action plan – Organic farming10-9

Agro-environment, N2000 and biodiversity Aim: Upkeep of HNV areas – Extensive farming of grassland Upkeep: very late mowing (July) Upkeep: very low level grazing 450 euros/ha per year ha, 7% of farmers, 25% of N2000 grasslands Good results on habitat conservation status

Agro-environment and biodiversity Aim: Landscape and nature development in grassslands «Natural grassland » € /ha per year Extensive farming ha, 3% of grasslands

Agro-environment and biodiversity Aim: Landscape and nature development: « Preserving small natural features » Hedges: 50 – 60 € / 200m per year km under contract Trees and bushes: 25 – 30 € / 10 per year trees or bushes Ponds: 50 – 60 € / pond per year ponds

Agro-environment and biodiversity Aim: Landscape and nature development in arable land: « Field strips » Extensive grass strip: Erosion reduction and biodiversity improvement € 900/ha per year km C. Extensive crop + arable flowers €1 250/ha per year A+B+C= 1500 km B.Extensive crop + beetle bank for birds € 1 250/ha per year A+B+C=1 500 km A.Extensive grass strip: meadow flowers: € ha per year A+B+C = km

Agro-environment and biodiversity Aim: Protection of streams/rivers + banks (biodiversity and water) Extensive strips along streams in grasslands. Upkeep: summer mowing or grazing. Extensive grass seeded strips instead of arable land along streams. Upkeep: summer mowing. €900/ha per year 1 500kms, 15% of river banks

Agro-environment and (agro)biodiversity Keeping of traditional endangered breeds 600 farmers €120 per cow per year €200 per horse per year €30 per sheep per year

Agro-environment in Wallonia General environment improvement on global farm scale Extensive breeding (AEM7) and organic farming (AEM 11) €100/ha per year, max 1LU/ha. 800 farms, 5% of farms €/ha per year 1100 farms, 8% of farms

EAFRD in Wallonia is largely implemented in measures in relation with N2000 management and improvement of biodiversity (>50 % budget). Needs are still very important (> more hectares should be under AE extensification measure; ha of N2000 habitats shoud be restored according to the latests estimations). AEM scheme is the main measure in terms of budget. Participation is high but not high enough for targeted methods. AEM scheme has (very) likely local positive impacts on biodiversity (conservation habitat status, impact on butterflies and bees, farmland birds and rare weeds). Presentation is based on Walloon RDP. Next RDP still being discussed ; Political and technical difficulties are observed (budget restrictions and balance between agricultural and environmental support). Main measures in relation with Natura 2000 and biodiversity should be in the next WRDP BUT new developements will be few in the coming years. Conclusions

Thank you for your attention!