WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

Recognizing the European Importance

of High Nature Value Farmlands

The case of Galati

17-18 April 2008

WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

Objectives of the workshop

a) illustrating at a local level, for the benefit of both policy makers and farmers, what HNV farmland concept means on the ground in Galati, and

b) drawing a series of lessons and questions for the currently evolving policy framework in Romania and EC

WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

The workshop Organizers:

The European Forum for Nature Conservation and Pastoralism

WWF Danube Carpathian Programme Romania

Donor: The BBI Matra Programme of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture

The Political Framework for High Nature Value Farming

WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

The Political Framework

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Agreed in 1992, Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro,

Three main goals:

• The conservation of biodiversity;

• Sustainable use of the components of biodiversity; and

• Sharing the benefits arising from the commercial and other utilisation of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way

WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

The Political Framework Environment for Europe Conference, Kiev (2003)

European Environmental Ministers agreed the following targets:

By 2006, identify, using agreed criteria, all high nature value areas in agricultural ecosystems in the pan European region

By 2008, a substantial proportion of these areas will be under biodiversity-sensitive management by using appropriate mechanisms such as rural development instruments, agri-environmental programs and organic agriculture, to inter alia support their economic and ecological viability.

By 2008, financial subsidy and incentive schemes for agriculture in the pan-European region will take the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity into consideration

WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

The Political Framework

European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development (2007-2013)

Explicit request for member states to address the issues of:

• Biodiversity, and the preservation of high nature value farming and forestry systems,

• Water,

• Climate change.

WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme www.panda.org/dcpo

The Political Framework

European Environment Agency and Joint Research Center

1st mapping exercise to identify HNV farming areas: initially in the EU-15 Member States, and the results published in 2004;

2nd mapping included 25+2 (Bulgaria and Romania); results in 2006

DG Agri HNVF Indicator study