Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures
for better water status
Thomas Dworak
Current links between European Agricultural Fund for Rural
Development (EAFRD) and the Program of Measures (POM)
under the Water Framework Directive
Aims and Objectives
Water Framework Directive
Rural Development 2006-2013
Has the aim to
Has the aim to improve:
• chieve good status/good potential
• the competitiveness of agriculture
and forestry;
in all waters
• Ensure sustainable ater
managment
• the environment and the
countryside;
• the quality of life and the
management of economic activity
in rural areas.
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Main findings of a comparision between RD and POM
Two large EU 27 Comparisins have been performed – One on RD
measures one on agricultural measures in POM.
Main findings are:
• Different responsibilities, different timing, different geographical
coverage --- > the level of coordination is not always obvious
• Different levels of ambition in a MS.
• Technical and non- technical measures in the RD and POM are often
the same
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Main findings – what measures will be applied
Technical
Input reduction
General Diffuse
pollution
Livestock farming
e.g. Fertilization plan ,
Reduce fertilizer and
pesticide inputs
phosphorous in agricultural
soils
e.g. Improvement of
manure storage ,
Reduction in
Livestock per
hectare, Reduction
in manure use,
Modernisation of
agricultural holdings,
Building of individual
wastewater
treatment plants in
farms, Silo storages
Chemical fertilizer
e.g. Quantitative
restrictions , Catch
crops, Winter crops,
Improved nutrient
spraying
technologies , Using
‘green manure’
Drainage system
e.g. Adapting
agriculture drainage
techniques
Low input Farming
e.g. Organic farming,
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Land use
Interventions
e.g. Land conversion,
Land use restrictions
Main findings – what measures will be applied
Technical
Soil erosion
General and
basic erosion
e.g. Changes in land
management practices
Land cultivation
method
e.g. Soil cultivation, General
erosion management,
Restrictions in cultivation,
Cultivation of winter crops,
Crop rotation management
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Main findings – what measures are applied
Technical
Multi-objective
Creation of
buffer zones
e.g. Planting buffer
vegetation,
Maintenance of
alluvial forests , Fence
off headwaters ,Strips
of land
Maintenance,
creation and
recovery of
wetlands
e.g. Creating buffer zones
and ecologic corridors
along the watercourses
and water basins,
Dredging of canals in
marshes
Change in land use
and cover
e.g. Widen river banks,
Setting aside agricultural
lands, Stopping
exploitation of
melioration systems
without use
Water saving measures
Floodplain
management
e.g. Development
of corridors
including
floodplains
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Water demand
control
e.g. Abstraction control
measures
Main findings – what measures will be applied
Non-technical
Implementation
and enforcement
of existing older
EU legislation
e.g. Set up or
redefine the codes
of good farming
practice , Refine
requirements/rest
rictions related to
manure storage,
Improved
accounting of
water use
Code of agricultural
practice
e.g. Codes dealing
with the issues of
nutrients, issues
such as covering of
soils, ploughing in
winter
Advice and
training
e.g. General services on
water protection in
agriculture, training on
specific problems
related to pesticide
handling, Fertilization
plans
Increase
knowledge for
improved
decision
making
e.g. Improve/establish
monitoring of water
status , Performing of
in-depth evaluations
and controls, Creation
of databases,
Performing
studies/expert
opinions/commissioni
ng conceptual designs
, Conducting surveys
regarding the agrienvironmental
systems
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Link between RD and the POM on a plan level
• 38.3% of RBDs provide information on how the measures are being
funded, of which 62% of these RBDs indicate they intent to use rural
development funds. Out of the river basins eligible for EAFRD funding
only 4 (3.6%) river basins indicate they will use Article 38 of the RDR on
providing subsidies to farmers for requirements under the WFD.
• Few RD programs refer to the WFD (status before 2009) but at this time
the POM where not clear. It is unclear how many MS amand the RD
programs because of the POM.
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the
council on support for rural development by the European
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)
General Remarks
There is no longer a separation among the 4 Axes
Member States are no longer obliged to spend minimum amount of
budget in a certain area
The absence of any binding objectives might lead to the fact that no
sufficient priority will be given to environmental objectives or climate
adaptation issues
This might further weaken the possibilities of the second pillar which
seems already to lose effectiveness because of a reduced budget
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Article 5
Union priorities for RD
Proposal:
….restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems dependent on
agriculture and forestry, with a focus on the following areas:
(a) restoring and preserving biodiversity, including in Natura 2000 areas
and high nature value farming, and the state of European landscapes;
(b) improving water management;
Assessment:
+ Clear references to water management as a priority
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Article 9
Content of RDPs
Proposal:
The development of RDPs requires an analysis of the situation in terms of
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). Based on this
the measures under the RD program have to be selected.
Assessment:
+ SWOT assessment requires the consideration of union priorities for rural
development and therefore water management
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Article 14-41
Measures under the RDP
Relevant measures for water and climate change:
+ Art 15: knowledge transfer and information actions
+ Art 16: advisory services, farm management and farm relief services;
mitigation and adaptation actions and requirements are explicitly stated as
a compulsory element
+ Art 18: investments in physical assets
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Article 14-41
Measures under the RDP
+ Art 19: restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural
disasters and catastrophic events and introduction of appropriate
prevention actions
+ Art 20: farm and business development in particular Art 20 (1)(a)(ii) non
agricultural activities in rural areas and (b) investments in non agricultural
activities which allow to develop alternatives to farming as part of climate
change adaptation
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Article 14-41
Measures under the RDP
Relevant measures for water and climate change:
+ Art 21: Basic services and village renewal in rural areas in particular
+ Art 22- 26: Forest related measures especially Art 22 81) (c) prevention
and restoration of damage to forests from forest fires and natural disasters,
including pest and disease outbreaks, catastrophic events and climate
related threats
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Article 14-41
Measures under the RDP
+ Art 29: Agri-environment- climate measures
+ Art 30: Organic farming
+ Art 31: Natura 2000 and Water framework directive payments (overlap
with the requirements of Cross Compliance?)
+ Art 32 and 33: Payments to areas facing natural or other specific
constraints (e.g. regular droughts?)
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Article 14-41
Measures under the RDP
+ Art 35: Forest-environmental and climate services and forest
conservation
+ Art 36: Cooperation in particular Art 36 (2) (a) pilot projects and (f) joint
action undertaken with a view to mitigating or adapting to climate change;
(g) collective approaches to environmental projects and on-going
environmental practices
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Article 14-41
Measures under the RDP
+ Art 38-40 : Insurance, funds and income stabilization tools
+ Art 46: Investments: In the case of irrigation, only investments that lead to
a reduction of previous water use by at least 25% shall be considered as
eligible expenditure
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Article 42 – 45 Leader
Proposal:
Support to “Inter-territorial co-operation” and “Transnational co-operation”
Assessment:
+ Allows to set up local action groups which could address water
management and adaptation
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Article 53 and 61-63
Proposal:
The EIP for agricultural productivity and sustainability shall:
(a) promote a resource efficient, productive, low emission, climate friendly
and resilient agricultural sector, working in harmony with the essential
natural resources on which farming depends
(c) improve processes to preserve the environment, adapt to climate
change and mitigate it
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Article 53 and 61-63
(d) build bridges between cutting-edge research knowledge and technology
and farmers, businesses and advisory services
Assessment:
+ Allows for innovative projects in the context of water management and
adaptation to Climate Change
Linking RBMP measures with RDP measures for better water status
Thank you for listening!
Thomas Dworak
Fresh Thoughts Consulting
Auhofstrasse 4/7, 1130 Vienna
[email protected]