8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania1 Agri-Environmental measures Agri-Environmental measures Jolita Ruzgienė Nature Protection Department Nature Protection Department Ministry of Environment Bonn, Germany Bonn, Germany

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania2 Lithuania at a glance Area: 65.3 thousands sq. kmArea: 65.3 thousands sq. km 97 % of total territory is rural 97 % of total territory is rural Population: 3,462 millionPopulation: 3,462 million 33 % of total population is rural (1,145 million)33 % of total population is rural (1,145 million)

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania3 Agri-Environmental measures (The Order of the Minister of Agriculture No. 3D-482 of August 13, 2004) Intended allocations (million EUR) for Measures TotalEUTotalEUTotalEUTotalEU Agri- Environment 15,00012,00020,20016,16027,00021,60062,20049,760

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania4 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 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;Improvement of the quality of surface and underground water; Reduction of negative impact on the environment of plant protection products;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));Restoration or preservation of the traditional landscape of the Lithuanian countryside (meadows, marshes (wetlands)); Production of good quality agricultural products;Production of good quality agricultural products; Keep of rear local endangered breeds of native domestic animals on farms.Keep of rear local endangered breeds of native domestic animals on farms.

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania5 Beneficiaries Farmers;Farmers; agricultural companies;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).private or legal persons on own or tenant land (land lease contract must be signed at least for the duration of 5 years).

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania6 Requirements for beneficiaries: Size of the owned or leased farm must be minimum of 1 hectare;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;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;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;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).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).

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania7 Scope of the Measures: Protection shore belts of surface water bodies in meadows and arable land and prevention of the soil erosion;Protection shore belts of surface water bodies in meadows and arable land and prevention of the soil erosion; Landscape Stewardship Scheme;Landscape Stewardship Scheme; Organic Farming Scheme;Organic Farming Scheme; Rare Breeds Scheme.Rare Breeds Scheme.

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania8 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.

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania9 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.

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania10 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.

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania11 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.

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania12 Organic farming scheme Specific requirements: Organic farming certificate, issued by the competent certification body, shall be presented

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania13 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.

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania14 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.

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania15 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.

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania16 In 2004 is set-up implementation: Organic Farming Scheme (1018 applications);Organic Farming Scheme (1018 applications); Rare Breeds Scheme (266 applications).Rare Breeds Scheme (266 applications). Intended allocations 8,3 million EUR Intended allocations 8,3 million EUR

8/30/05The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania17 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);Organic Farming Scheme (689 applications); Rare Breeds Scheme (56 applications).Rare Breeds Scheme (56 applications). Intended allocations 9,01 million EUR Intended allocations 9,01 million EUR

August 30, 2005The Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania18 Thank you for your attention!