EIONET Meeting National Reference Centres Agriculture and Environment 21 June Directorate General Environment European Commission

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1 EIONET Meeting National Reference Centres Agriculture and Environment 21 June 2018 Directorate General Environment European Commission

2 Pressures of farming on the environment Only 11% of habitats of Community interest associated with agricultural ecosystems are in favourable conservation status (MTR Review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy) The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) - Regional assessments on biodiversity and ecosystem services (March 2018), For Europe: Conventional intensive agriculture, especially related to the excessive use of agrochemicals, and forestry practices used to increase the production of food and biomass-based fuels have had a negative impact on many regulating services, such as habitat maintenance, pollination, regulation of freshwater quantity and quality, soil formation and regulation of floods There are examples of sustainable agricultural and forestry practices that are beneficial to biodiversity and nature s contributions to people in the region. Agrienvironmental schemes, ecological restoration and sustainable approaches to agriculture, such as agroecology and agroforestry, mitigate some of the adverse effects of intensive agriculture

Pressions environnementales AIR About 90 % of EU citizens exposed to at least one harmful

the period 2014-2015 -EEA) WATER 53% of water bodies in good ecological status (Pesticide use in FR

substances in concentration over the authorized limit -APRONA 2016) SOIL Moderate to severe erosion

3 Pressions environnementales AIR About 90 % of EU citizens exposed to at least one harmful atmospheric pollutant at a dangerous concentration level (WHO) (Ammonia emission has increased over the period EEA) WATER 53% of water bodies in good ecological status (Pesticide use in FR + 22% between DRIAAFF pesticides found in ground water body of Alsace and 21 substances in concentration over the authorized limit -APRONA 2016) SOIL Moderate to severe erosion (higher than 5 T/ha/year) affects nearly 13 % of EU arable soils and about 10% of permanent pastureland (JRC). (Third of global soil is acutely degraded due to agriculture) BIODIVERSITY High proportion of assessments of protected species (60 %) and of habitats (77 %) whose conservation status is unfavourable (EEA 2017)

4 Latest report from the Nitrate Directive (2018)

5 Biodiversity: ALARMING TREND State of Common European Breeding Birds 2017 (EBCC, RSPB, Birdlife): Common farmland species have declined by 55% between The Farmland Bird Index has decreased by 15.8 % between 2000 and 2015 More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas in Germany Use agronomy not pesticides. EU Health and Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis

6 AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS 28 agri-environmental indicators (MoU AGRI, CLIMA, EEA, ENV, ESTAT, JRC, SANTE) New indicators: Pollinator indicator 2018 (future CAP impact indicator) Pesticide risk indicator 2018 (SANTE) (CAP impact indicator) Landscape features in farmland indicator 2018 (CAP impact indicator) Enhanced biodiversity protection: Percentage of species and habitats of Community interest related to agriculture with stable or increasing trends (new CAP impact indicator) Top Soil Organic Carbon Indicator New Needs: data on sustainable farming practices (agroecology, agroforestry, conservation agriculture, HNV farmland, and precision farming): adoption and results Data to inform the design of CAP strategic plans (eco-schemes)

7 CAP STRATEGIC PLANS Environmental authorities to be involved Environment planning tools to be taken into account Basic income support Eco-schemes 15% +15% Investments Measures for environment and climate Redistributive payment Young farmers (min 2%) Coupled payments (max 10%) 15% +2% Knowledge exchange and information Cooperation, Young Farmers, Risk Management Tools, Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive payments Areas with Natural Constraints Pillar 1 (no earmarking) Pillar 2 (min 30% for environment /climate) Enhanced conditionality applies to both pillars

8 Water ENHANCED CONDITIONALITY elements for the environment Climate change GAEC 1 to 3 Maintenance of permanent grassland Protection of wetland and peatland, Ban on burning arable stubble SMR1 SMR 2 GAEC 4 GAEC 5 Soil GAEC 6 GAEC 7 GAEC 8 Biodiversity and landscapes SMR 3 SMR 4 GAEC 9 GAEC 10 Nitrates Directive WFD (autorisation for abstraction and pollution by phosphates) Buffer strips, Sustainability Tool for Nutrients Tillage management reducing erosion No bare soil in most sensitive periods Crop rotation Birds Directive Habitats Directive Non-productive features or areas (EFAs) + Retention of landscape features + Ban on cutting hedges and trees during the bird breeding and rearing season + As an option, measures for avoiding invasive plant species Ban on converting or ploughing permanent grassland in Natura 2000 sites Plant protection products SMR 13 Sustainable use of Pesticides Directive restrictions on the use of pesticides in protected areas defined on the basis of the Water Framework Directive and Natura 2000 legislation. Article 13(1) and (3) on handling and storage of pesticides and disposal of remnants.

9 ECO-SCHEMES Fully financed by the EU Obligatory for MS to offer them Voluntary for farmers Annual No minimum financial allocation Content left to the MS (examples given in recital: enhanced management of permanent pastures and landscape features, organic farming, entrylevel schemes ). MS are left the choice to i) compensate for income foregone and additional costs or ii) to provide an incentive

10 Interventions for environment and climate Co- funding up to 80% Obligatory for MS to offer them and voluntary for farmers Content left to the MS Multi-annual contracts Farmers are compensated on the basis of income forgone and additional costs, + possible transaction costs Usable to compensate Natura 2000 commitments when MS left them voluntary for farmers Includes current measures 10, 11, 14, 15 Pluri-annual

11 R 17 Afforested land: Area supported for afforestation and creation of woodland, EU Specific objectives Performance framework Impact indicators = to evaluate EU policy Result indicators= MS fix targets against them I.9 Improving farm resilience: Index R.12 Adaptation to climate change: Share of agricultural land under commitments to improve climate adaptation Contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as sustainable energy I.10 Contribute to climate change mitigation: Reducing GHG emissions from agriculture I.11 Enhancing carbon sequestration: Increase the soil organic carbon I.12 Increase sustainable energy in agriculture: Production of renewable energy from agriculture and forestry R.13 Reducing emissions in the livestock sector: Share of livestock units under support to reduce GHG emissions and/or ammonia, including manure management R.14 Carbon storage in soils and biomass: Share of agricultural land under commitments to reducing emissions, maintaining and/or enhancing carbon storage (permanent grassland, agricultural land in peatland, forest, etc.) R.15 Green energy from agriculture and forestry: Investments in renewable energy production capacity, including bio-based (MW) R.16 Enhance energy efficiency: Energy savings in agriculture

12 EU Specific objectives Performance framework Impact indicators = to evaluate EU policy Result indicators= MS fix targets against them Foster sustainable development and efficient management of natural resources such as water, soil and air I.13 Reducing soil erosion: Percentage of land in moderate and severe soil erosion on agricultural land I.14 Improving air quality: Reduce ammonia emissions from agriculture I.15 Improving water quality: Gross nutrient balance on agricultural land 1.16 Reducing nutrient leakage: Nitrate in ground water - Percentage of ground water stations with N concentration over 50 mg/l as per the Nitrate directive I.17 Reducing pressure on water resource: Water Exploitation Index Plus (WEI+) R.18 Improving soils: Share of agricultural land under management commitments beneficial for soil management R.19 Improving air quality: Share of agricultural land under commitments to reduce ammonia emission R.20 Protecting water quality: Share of agricultural land under management commitments for water quality R.21 Sustainable nutrient management: Share of agricultural land under commitments related to improved nutrient management R.22 Sustainable water use: Share of irrigated land under commitments to improve water balance R.23 Environment-/climate-related performance through investment: Share of farmers with support in investments related

13 EU Specific objectives Performance framework Impact indicators = to evaluate EU policy Result indicators= MS fix targets against them Contribute to the protection of biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services and preserve habitats and landscapes I.18 Increasing farmland bird populations: Farmland Bird Index I.19 Enhanced biodiversity protection: Percentage of species and habitats of Community interest related to agriculture with stable or increasing trends I.20 Enhanced provision of ecosystem services: share of UAA covered with landscape features I.19 Increase pollinator populations: Grassland Butterfly Indicator (to be added when ready) R.25 Supporting sustainable forest management: Share of forest land under management commitments to support forest protection and management. R.26 Protecting forest ecosystems: Share of forest land under management commitments for supporting landscape, biodiversity and ecosystem services R.27 Preserving habitats and species: Share of agricultural land under management commitments supporting biodiversity conservation or restoration R.28 Supporting Natura 2000: Area in Natura 2000 sites under commitments for protection, maintenance and restoration R.29 Preserving landscape features: Share of agriculture land under commitments for managing landscape

14 EU Specific objectives Performance framework Impact indicators = to evaluate EU policy Result indicators= MS fix targets against them Improve the response of EU agriculture to societal demands on food and health, including safe, nutritious and sustainable food, as well as animal welfare I.27 Sustainable use of pesticides: Reduce risks and impacts of pesticides** R.37 Sustainable pesticide use: Share of agricultural land concerned by supported specific actions which lead to a sustainable use of pesticides in order to reduce risks and impacts of pesticides

15 Thank you for your attention!

Water and Agriculture

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