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Agri-environment

Agri-environment is the interface between biodiversity conservation and agriculture. In the case of Transylvania (unlike most of Europe) agri-environment measures are actually the continuation of current (traditional) management.

The biodiversity of the area can be conserved only if traditional land management continues. Fundatia ADEPT gives high priority to creating long-term incentives for traditional management, in the form either of grants or of commercial incentives.

These activities are supported by EU agri-environment grants under the Romanian National Rural Development Programme (NRDP).

ADEPT is designing and implementing agri-environment measures in the area: in particular,

• the identification of high nature value grasslands, identification of useful indicator species to judge condition of grasslands, and creation of innovative mapping systems that will assist both conservation management and agricultural management
• the creation of guidelines for their continued traditional management, for example: mowing of hay meadows at least once per year, but after 1 July; low stocking rates on pastureland; rotational grazing to prevent damage; not using artificial fertizer; optional higher payments for hand-mowing.
• the promotion of financial incentives for traditional management. Agri-environment measures have a cost to the farmer, in terms of increased labour and reduced production, and it is essential to give reasonable economic incentives in the form of compensatory payments.

ADEPT has provided technical support to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Rural Development (MAFRD) to assist with the preparation of the NRDP, which establishes the framework for financial assistance available for rural development after Romania’s EU accession. A key issue was ensuring that economic and social development measures for rural areas are fully integrated with measures to ensure sustainable natural resource use. ADEPT has successfully piloted agri-environment schemes (SAPARD 3.3) in the Tarnava Mare, which significantly helped with the design of Romanian agri-encironment measures under PNDR (Measure 214).

The work of  ADEPT has contributed useful pilot experience that has fed back into policy in Bucharest. Fundaţia ADEPT is a member of the NRDP Consultative Committee.

Agri-environment research

ADEPT is carrying our specific work on the the management of the grasslands, identifying indicator species and linking agri-environment management measures to measurable biodiversity benefits

There is a steady decline across Europe in grassland habitat extent and quality, in grassland diversity, and in wildlife associated with grasslands, in spite of considerable state and NGO sector efforts to prevent this. The objectives of the EU‘s 2010 countdown initiative are not being met. 

To increase our understanding of the problems, and solutions, ADEPT is carrying out studies in collaboration with Romanian and international universities to compare Tarnava Mare‘s relatively intact traditional farming systems with farmed landscapes in western Europe. A suite of indicator species is being studied in the area. 

Further details.
 

Farming

Farming in the area

Agri-environment

Research

Food hygiene

The biodiversity of the area can be conserved only if traditional land management continues.

 

Further information on traditional farming systems

For more information on the farming systems of the Romanian Carpathians and Sub-Carpathians, visit the HNV showcases at the European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism (EFNCP) website.