20 years of grassland management on Western-Saaremaa, Estonia

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1 20 years of grassland management on Western-Saaremaa, Estonia ARGO PEEPSON Enhancing Economic viability of Grasslands by Green Farming in Europe Latvia, May 2015

2 Lümanda study area Area: 199 km², 786 inh. (2014) Westernmost municipality of Estonia

3 Lümanda study area Mosaic landscape, high share of (semi-natural) grasslands, stonewalls 93 households with agricultural land (2010), ~2800 ha in total 56 households with animals (2010) Sheep and beef production Arable 17% Permanent grassland 83% Tõnu Talvi

4 SNH in Lümanda municipality Ca 2000 ha semi-natural habitats in total (2014) Kaja Lotman, EB

5 SNH in Lümanda municipality wooded pasture (9070) 4% juniper shrubland (4030, 5130, ) 5% wooded meadow (6530*) 3% other 9% alvars (6280*) 28% boreo-nemoral grasslands (6210, 6270) 17% coastal meadow (1630*) 34% Environmental Board (2015)

6 Vilsandi National Park and Viidumäe Nature Reserve Vilsandi NP: oldest protection area (Vaika strict nature reserve) in the Baltic countries formed in 1910, since 1993 Vilsandi National Park Area of km 2 in total, 75.3 km 2 by land. Approx. 160 islands, islets and reefs Biggest grey seal colonies in Estonia, 247 species of birds, 114 of them also nest (Environmental Board) Viidumäe NR: oldest and highest part of Saaremaa island (59 m asl). Established in 1957, area of 26 km 2

7 Socio-economic and political background Land reform EU Depopulation, emigration Economic viability Kalev Sepp

8 Settlement vitality ESTONIA, TOTAL PROTECTED AREAS LÜMANDA 1. Empty and with high de-population risk settlements, % 2. With medium de-population risk settlements, % 3. With smaller de-population risk settlements,% Jaak Kliimask, EULS

9 and consequences About 10% of agricultural land out of use (2001) Scanpix

10 Changes in nature protection administration Reorganisation of Estonian nature protection system and administrative management: 1994 Act on Protected Objects of Nature 2006 State Nature Protection Centre 2009 Environmental Board Platanthera bifolia Lesser Butterfly-orchid

11 Development of support system for management of SMH 1995 Matsalu NP, WWF Sweden Agri-environment pilot project (national funding, ministry of Agr.) eur budget 39 beneficiaries in Lümanda/Kihelkonna Support for restoration of agricultural land (incl. semi-natural habitats) Only few applicants/hectares Restoration of stonewalls

12 Development of support system for management of SMH support for management of semi-natural habitats (national funding, ministry of Env.) Valuable areas, also outside of protected areas (Natura 2000 from year 2004). Whole budget 1.2 mln eur/year ha managed, 1900 ha restored, m of fences (2005)

13 Development of support system for management of SMH RDP Since 2007 part of Estonian RDP Support for management of wooded meadow: 238,07 eur/ha Other communities: 185,98 eur/ha Managed ha and restored ha (2013)

14 Development of support system for management of SMH RDP Support for management of wooded meadow: 450 eurot/ha Wooded pasture: 250 eur/ha Meadows with juniper: 250 eur/ha (grasing), 185 eur/ha (mowing) Other habitats: 150 eur/ha (grasing) 85 eur/ha (mowing) Cypripedium calceolus Lady s Slipper

15 Development of support system for management of SMH RDP Additional possibilities for coastal meadows with higher management requirements Some habitats (e.g. wooded meadows) are eligible for Single Area Payment

16 Other instruments Support for restoration of SMH in protected areas through Ministry of Envir restored 8000 hectares

17 Other instruments ERF projects: animals, machinery State Environmental Investments Centre: animals, machinery, fences Projects of Environmental Board LIFE-Nature (e.g projects, incl. for management of semi-natural habitats) Work camps (Estonian Fund For Nature, Estonian Seminatural Community Conservation Association)

18 What has been done in Lümanda? Kaja Lotman, EB

19 What has been done in Lümanda? Year Restoration (ha) Management (RDP) (ha) ,1 172, ,1 252, , ,97 792, , , ,43 847, ,11 792,58 Environmental Board (2015) About 40% of all SMH managed

20 What has been done in Lümanda? Since 2008 Saaremaa Ecovillage farm is managing up to 300 ha of coastal pastures on Vilsandi island Work camps (Estonian Fund For Nature/Environmental board) for restoration (cutting junipers etc.) Work camps also in Viidumäe NR (restoration and mowing of wooded meadows) Saarte Hääl

21 Practical problems view from farmers` side Long-term commitments (5 years) Bureaucracy, difficult support schemes Technical requirements (dates etc.) Use of hay?

22 Practical problems view from administration side Contracts with land owners Overgrowing with bushes and reed in bigger areas Bureaucracy, difficult support schemes Technical requirements (dates etc.) Ago Ruus

23 Key to the future Global economy EU policy developments Economic profitability: other possibilities than agricultural-environmental payments? Bioenergy?

24 Thank you!