Category Archives: Case Study

Agro-ecological transition pathways in arable farming

Summary

In intensive arable regions like the Nienburg district in Lower Saxony the uptake of current agri-environment schemes is low and their performance unsatisfactory.

Nine arable farms are assessed using the participatory decision support tools SMART, Cool Farm Tool and COMPAS possible pathways of agro-ecological transitions and to co-construct practice-validatedstrategies and incentives for the promotion of improved agro-ecological practices. Agro-ecological practices are adopted on specific parts of the farm if and where such practices fit best with the business plan of the farm. Result oriented approaches will be developed on an experimental basis to foster farmland biodiversity and water protection using the toolkit to assess the environmental, economic and social performance of the innovative strategies at farm level (part of the German case study of H2020 project UNISECO).

Objectives

A local Multi-Actor Platform (MAP) is set up to:

Improve understanding of barriers and drivers of agro-ecological transitions;
Co-construct novel and effective market mechanisms and policy instruments to improve the sustainability of intensive arable farming systems;
Design result-oriented agro-ecological practices allowing to improve biodiversity and water quality while minimizing negative impacts on the economic viability.

Public Goods

Agro-ecological transition pathways in arable farming

Problem description

In the district of Nienburg, Lower Saxony a high pressure on ecological sustainability in general and biodiversity loss as well as water pollution in particular persists. Land use is dominated by highly market-oriented farming with a high share of rented land.
The experience with demanding agro-ecological practices is very limited. Cover crops are grown as greening measure and some farmers have established flowering strips, extensive field margins.

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Conservation and restoration of grasslands in Strandzha and Sakar mountains for restoring local biodiversity and endangered bird species

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Summary

The project started in 2015 and is still ongoing. The main goal was to restore former high value pastures that have been turned into farmland and in this way to restore the natural habitats of important species – the European Souslik as a main food source for Imperial Eagle, Booted Eagle, Lesser spotted eagle, Long-legged buzzard. The contract is land-based and it includes around 20 farmers in the Strandzha Mountain. The leading organization is the Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds, which is an NGO. Under a project financed partially by the LIFE + program the association purchased and leased out over 600 ha land to farmers with requirements to restore and maintain the pastures in the environmental way.

Objectives

Protect the local biodiversity in the area;
Restoration of the natural mosaic nature of the habitats in the region;
To encourage the involvement of farmers into contracts for biodiversity conservation.

Public Goods

Rewilding of detention basin in Massa Lombarda

Problem description

There is a tendency to plough and convert some of the most important grasslands for endangered bird species into arable land, vineyards and orchards. The main driving force for this contract was the high percentage of tilled pastures, which were turned into arable land in the Strandhza and Sakar mountains. The restoration of former high-value pastures will contribute to the conservation of endangered vulture birds and will also allow the restoration of the mosaic nature of the habitats – an important biodiversity feature.

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Flemish nature management plan

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Summary

Different owners and managers develop common and differentiated management goals for their respective territories for developing sustainable nature and forestry; integrated management, according to the Flemish Integrated Management Criteria (ecology, economy, social and heritage dimension aspects).

Objectives

The nature management plan describes the most important values of an area for its ecological, social and economic function and makes well-founded choices about the important objectives for this area. The plan must also clarify which measures are required for this, and how and where they are implemented. One also wants to know whether the area under management is actually evolving in the right direction and, where necessary, adjusting management is needed. A nature management plan has a term of 24 years, unless determined otherwise when approved. In addition, the nature management plan is an administrative document. It is a contract between the government and the manager in which certain fees stand against certain commitments. The nature management plan is also a way to test whether the planned goals and measures are in accordance with policy preconditions, such as N2000 management plans, species protection programs or protected landscapes. This requires that the goals and measures are formulated unambiguously and according to an agreed terminology.

Public Goods

**Recreational access / Improvements to physical and mental health**

Problem description

In the region of Flanders forests and nature legally are managed through one type of plan – the nature management plan. This plan replaces all previous management plans:
• basic forest management plan;
• extended forest management plan;
• management plan for forest reserves;
• management plan for nature reserves;
• management plan for verges;
• management plan for parks.
The nature management plan is a voluntary contract under administrative law between the Flemish government and the manager(s) of nature and forests.
Advantages of the nature management plan:
• single approval procedure for all types of nature (forest, heath, open green space,…);
• transparent and organized;
• linked to subsidies;
• nature and forest management plan is valid for 24 years – evaluation every six years, no further administrative approvals needed;
• public bodies, NGO‘s and private owners use the same system and get equal opportunities;
• a nature management plan is a constructive tool for the long term planning of a plot of forest or nature.

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The Humus-Program of the Ökoregion Kaindorf

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Summary

The Humus-Program of the “Ökoregion Kaindorf” is a contract solution developed for voluntary trading of CO2 certificates: Based on an initial soil sampling at the start of the contract (by a certified civil engineer and accredited national laboratory), farmers set own measures to increase the humus content in their soils. After a period of three to seven years (according to the farmers’ needs), humus content is determined again by a second soil sampling. An increase in humus content is converted into additional tons of CO2 stored in soil. Farmers receive a success fee of 30€ per additional ton of CO2 stored, which is financed by companies who voluntarily compensate their unavoidable CO2 emissions. The amount of CO2 purchased by the companies cannot be traded. After the payment, farmers must guarantee that the increased humus content remains in place for at least five years.
This requirement is verified by a third soil sampling taken five years after the payment. Decreases in humus levels lead to partial or complete refunding of the success fee. Contracts and the carbon verification is organized and managed by the association “Verein Ökoregion Kaindorf” while emission trading is managed by an own Ltd.

Objectives

Main objective: humus (soil organic matter) accumulation and soil carbon
sequestration;
Higher soil fertility – soil organic matter supports life in the soil, which is the
basis for vital crops and reduces the need for mineral fertilizers and pesticides
More reliable harvests through resilient crops – living soil supports resistant
plants in the face of global climate change;
Keeping the soil in place – humus-rich soils rich are more resistant against erosion by heavy rainfalls, flooding or wind;
Humus-rich soils store lots of water, which helps to maintain stable yields
during droughts;
Keeping the groundwater clean – soils rich in humus can fix more nitrate and
prevent groundwater pollution;
Climate change mitigation through CO2 fixation – soil organic matter contains about 60% carbon, hence building up the soil humus removes CO2 from the atmosphere and helps to mitigate global overheating

Public Goods

Climate regulation - carbon storage — **Climate regulation – carbon storage**

The Humus-Program of the Ökoregion Kaindorf — Rewilding of detention basin in Massa Lombarda

Problem description

The initiator of the contract solution is the association “Ökoregion Kaindorf”. The association, which consists of three municipalities, has set itself the goal of significantly reducing its CO2 emissions to achieve net CO2 neutrality as soon as possible. Human-induced climate change was the reason to act. By reducing the consumption of energy and raw materials and supplying them with renewable energy, as well as by humus formation, the way to CO2 neutrality is sought. The most far-reaching project in the “Ökoregion” is the Humus-Program, in which around 300 farmers throughout Austria are now participating.

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Building natural flood management knowledge and capacity in Wensleydale

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Summary

The Wensleydale CSFF network was set up in April 2017 by a group of 29 farmers with a common interest in natural flood management. The group has subsequently grown and members tend to naturally group according to their farming/land management practices, although all have benefited from other similar CSFFs being set up at the same time in thesame geographical area.
The group has several aims including exploring Countryside Stewardship priorities and funding that can help deliver NFM and management for priority habitats and species. By working as a group the farmers are also able to provide sufficient information to help inform and influence future funding allocations such as Agri-Environment Schemes (AES) and the priorities of organisations including Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency. The group has constant contact with other nearby NFM CSFF groups including Upper Wharfedale, Swaledale and Lunesdale to agree ways of joint working to share expertise and training delivery which increases farmer participation and outcomes. The group also works with the ‘Yorkshire Dales Catchment Partnership’ to improve water quality

Objectives

To explore what NFM measures could be considered and installed to help
address surface water run-off and high river and stream levels during periods
of heavy and/or prolonged rainfall;
Identify what services farmers provide/can provide to help downstream
communities recognise the value of ‘buying in’ to NFM carried out on
farmland upstream;
Improved management of ancient and native woodland;
Native woodland creation and habitat creation for black grouse and red
squirrel;
Management of purple moor grass and rush pasture for breeding waders
Traditional hay meadow management and restoration;
Riparian habitat management and creation.

Public Goods

Problem description

The Wensleydale NFM CSFF group was set up as part of the 2017 Northern Flood Round of the CSFF to tackle issues brought into sharp focus following Storm Desmond in 2015. Surface water run-off, coupled with high river water flows during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall, was contributing to flooding in the area which was happening more regularly and with increasing intensity. Flooding and high water levels were not just affecting farmland, but local roads and communities too.
An additional driver was the need to improve water quality as phosphate and sediments were reaching the upper and middle reaches of the Ure catchment and the Semer Water SSSI.

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Program “Flowering meadows” – contracts for protection of biodiversity and water resources by regular mowing of meadows

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Summary

The program “Flowering meadows” has been introduced in 2011 by the Żywiec Zdrój S.A. company (one of the largest producers of bottled water and other soft drinks in Poland) within their Corporate Social Responsibility policy. Under the program, farmers/land owners in the communes of Jeleśnia, Węgierska Górka, Radziechowy-Wieprz regularly mow meadows respecting certain rules in order to protect biodiversity as well as water resources used by the company. Since 2017 the program has been managed by National Foundation of Environmental Protection Centrum UNEP/GRID-Warsaw. Farmers may take an advantage of the compensation of PLN 2.5 thousand/ha (ca. 580 euro/ha) of mowed area. In 2019, the project covered 52 ha of land owned by 97 farmers. The target area planned for protection is 120 ha of sensitive plots surrounding the water springs of Żywiec Zdrój S.A. As a result of this program, overgrowing of valuable grassland habitats was inhibited, and the infiltration of water was improved. The project allowed to secure populations of plant species subject to legal protection, which are highly threatened due to the abandonment of the use of mountain meadows – e.g. it prevented the extinction of the Spisz saffron in Sopotnia Mała in Polana Monarska.

Objectives

Preservation, protection and restoration of the biodiversity in valuable natural areas;
Protection of clean water resources of the region;
Maintenance and improvement of valuable natural habitats.

Public Goods

Problem description

Abandonment of mowing accelerates the processes of secondary plant succession in the meadows by the influx of self-seeding invasive plant species and of trees. As a result, this affects the natural biodiversity of meadows, and reduces the water infiltration of these areas. Many species of valuable plants are being displaced from their natural habitats. Mowing meadows has a positive effect on the preservation of these habitats and improves water retention.

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Category Archives: Case Study

Agro-ecological transition pathways in arable farming

Summary

Objectives

Public Goods

Problem description

Conservation and restoration of grasslands in Strandzha and Sakar mountains for restoring local biodiversity and endangered bird species

Summary

Objectives

Public Goods

Problem description

Flemish nature management plan

Summary

Objectives

Public Goods

Problem description

The Humus-Program of the Ökoregion Kaindorf

Summary

Objectives

Public Goods

Problem description

Building natural flood management knowledge and capacity in Wensleydale

Summary

Objectives

Public Goods

Problem description

Program “Flowering meadows” – contracts for protection of biodiversity and water resources by regular mowing of meadows

Summary

Objectives

Public Goods

Problem description