Future Imperfect

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31 FUTURE IMPERFECT
High nature value farming (HNV) supports farming activ-
ity and farmland that has high biodiversity or contains
species and habitats of conservation concern. The Ro-
manian Government has implemented a High Nature
Value Grassland agri-environment measure as part of
its National Rural Development Plan (NRDP) in an at-
tempt to limit both agricultural abandonment and inten-
sification. Farmers can voluntarily enter into a five-year
agreement and receive payments, currently set at €124
per ha, in return for adhering to a specified set of man-
agement requirements. These include, for example, a
ban on the use of chemical fertilizers. Farmers can also
apply for the Traditional Farming option whereby addi-
tional payments can be obtained in return for not using
any mechanization.
In the long run, farming can be preserved through sus-
tainable grassland management. An example is the Tar-
nava Mare region in Romania, an area consisting mostly
of small-scale semi-subsistence farming where the meat,
dairy products and honey produced are an essential source
of local food. A pilot agri-environment scheme helped local
food production and will strengthen biodiversity. For ex-
ample butterflies will benefit from sustainably managed
grasslands where many wild flowers will provide either
nectar for adult butterflies or larval food plants. The pilot
found that, as well as agri-environment payments, actions
were needed that support local markets. These included
improvement of milk collection points for small-scale milk
producers in the Tarnave region and the creation of a
brand for local products. Opportunities were also created
for agro-tourism. The adaptation measure thus creates a
“multiplier effect” whereby tourism becomes an extra form
of “payment” to local people for landscape conservation
Adaptation Action:
High Nature Value Farming
Traditional agricultural practices in the Tarnava Mare region