Nature Conservation and the EU Policy for Sustainable Land Management in the new EU Member States June 16 – 20, 2007 in

1. Nature Conservation and the EU Policy for Sustainable Land Management in the new EU Member StatesJune 16 – 20, 2007 in Bonn, Germany Sonya Sammut, Rural Development Department Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Malta

2. Module IV: Rural Development: Rural development programmes 2007 – 2013 • The question: Whether the different Axis strengthen nature conservation and sustainable rural development • Malta’s experience: The role of agri-environment measures in enriching biodiversity and promoting sustainable farming systems

3. The relationship between agriculture and biodiversity in Malta • The Maltese Islands harbour a very diverse array of non-marine plants and animals. • Certain varieties of cultivated crops and certain breeds of domesticated animals are endemic to the Maltese Islands. • Agricultural land supports a number of species of flora and fauna, and provides a food supply for insectivorous birds that breed in the Maltese Islands. • In addition, agricultural land is characterised by kilometers of dry stone rubble walls that provide an excellent habitat for a number of vertebrates and invertebrates, such as insects, reptiles and small mammals.

4. Rural Development programme 2004-2006 • A: Restoring of retaining rubble walls – maintenance of damaged patches of existing terraces rubble walls between 10 to 100m2. • B: Maintaining biodiversity by conserving and enhancing autochthonous species • C: Promotion of organic farming methods • The importance of restoration of rubble walls is linked to their soil retaining function (prevention of soil loss) and their importance as habitats. • The density of agricultural margins (together with other linear elements including the carob and prickly pear) shall be used as an indicator of species diversity in areas under active cultivation and an indicator of HNV farmland because they are prime habitats for practically all reptiles, including the sub-endemic Maltese Wall lizard, Podarcis filfolensis.

5. Rural Development programme 2007-2013 • Main concerns for Malta when designing agri-environmental measures: • Land-based payment – administrative difficulties in implementation (e.g. rubble walls) • Verifiability and controllability • Rates of support - limited land area and fragmented holdings • Clear obligations understandable by farmers • Low interest by ageing farming population

6. Nature conservation and sustainability targets • Reduction, better management of plant protection products, including integrated production: • M 1: Support for reduced use of plant protection products in vineyards • M 4: Support to suppress the use of herbicides in vineyards and fruit orchards

7. Nature conservation and sustainability targets • Reduction, better management of fertilisers: • M 3: Support for low input farming • M 6: Support for a reduction in fertiliser use in protected cropping systems

8. Nature conservation and sustainability targets • Actions to maintain agricultural habitats favourable for biodiversity, including creation, upkeep of landscape/ecological features and diversification of crop-rotations: • M 2: Support for the traditional cultivation of sulla

9. Nature conservation and sustainability targets • Actions to maintain agricultural habitats favourable for biodiversity, including creation, upkeep of landscape/ecological features and diversification of crop-rotations: • M 5: Support for the establishment and maintenance of conservation buffer strips

10. Nature conservation and sustainability targets • Actions to maintain agricultural habitats favourable for biodiversity, including creation, upkeep of landscape/ecological features and diversification of crop-rotations: • M 8: Support for tree planting on farm land • M 9: Support for the establishment and maintenance of wildlife hedges • M 10: Support for providing a healthy forage area for bees Photo by A.E. Baldacchino