Rural Development Policy Coexistence of large carnivores and agriculture 2nd meeting of the Working Group on Wolves Mike Mackenzie DG AGRI/G1: Consistency of Rural Development
Rural development regulations Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1974/2006 ‘support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development’
Axis 1 Art. 26: Modernisation of Agricultural holdings Support for tangible or intangible investments which: improve overall performance respect Community standards Relevance: investments for protecting livestock Aid rates: in most cases, 40 % of eligible investment higher rates in certain cases (e.g. young farmers, Less Favoured Areas, Natura 2000 areas)
Axis 2 Art. 39: Agri-environment payments In support of environmental objectives… …beyond baseline standards Relevance: Preventing damage from wolves to environmentally valuable farming systems Aid rate: Up to € 450 / ha for “other land uses” Higher rate possible in exceptional cases
Axis 2 (continued) Art. 41: Non-productive investments Support for: investments linked to achievement of agri-environmental objectives on-farm investments enhancing “public amenity value” of Natura 2000 areas, other areas of high nature value No aid rate/ceiling specified in the rules
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