RBAPS Romania & UK

Two additional pilot projects, in Romania and the UK, are being funded by DG Environment to trial results-based approaches to paying for environmental goods:

RBAPS Romania

In Romania the scheme is available in the Tarnava Mare and the Pogány Havas/Muntii Ciucului regions. The scheme is being trialed in these two areas for 3 years from 2016-2019.

romania-pilots-map

Image: fundatia-ADEPT.org

The scheme is targeted at hay meadows of high nature value (HNV) which are often traditionally managed for generations and an important part of the local cultural heritage. Studies have shown that HNV meadows in Romania are some of the most species-rich in the world.

Under the scheme in Romania farmers must:

  • record each year species from a list that (s)he finds on the meadow every year, along a straight line (transect)
  • mow the meadows at least once a year, first cut is after the 10th of June in order to allow controls to take place.

Fundatia ADEPT will consult with farmers and farmer associations in Tarnava Mare and the Pogány Havas/Muntii Ciucului regions, in order to identify farmers with up to 100 ha of haymeadows who are interested to participate ion the scheme. The contracts will be for 3 years of payments, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

What the farmer will receive: payments
Payment varies between €140 – 180 per ha according to the number of species. Addition payments will be available for manual mowing, €100 per hectare, and mowing with light machinery. €21 per hectare.

See the ADEPT website for more information on the Romanian RBAPS project.

RBAPS UK

Natural England in partnership with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority are trialing a payment by results approaches in two locations in England: grasslands in Wensleydale and arable land in Norfolk/Suffock.

In Wensleydale 19 farmers have entered 36 ha of species-rich meadows and 152 ha of breding wader land into agreements under the project. In Norfolk/Suffock 15 farmers have entered 25 ha of winter bird food and 17 ha of pollen and necter plots.

You can read more about the UK project in their RBAPS UK newsletter and on the RBAPS UK website.