Zrinka Mesić1,2, Ana Ostojić1, Nela Jantol1, Hrvoje Kutnjak3, Ivona Žiža1, Edin Lugić1, Monika Petković1, Vladimir

Kušan1

Opportunities for diversification of biodiversity protection measures under the

Rural Development Program
Mogućnosti diverzifikacije mjera za zaštitu biološke raznolikosti u sklopu Programa ruralnog
razvoja
1OIKON Ltd. – Institute of Applied Sciences, Trg senjskih uskoka 1-2, 10020 Zagreb, Hrvatska
2Karlovac University of Applied Sciences, Trg J.J.Strossmeyera 9, 47000 Karlovac, Croatia (zrinka.mesic@vuka.hr)
3University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska cesta 25, HR–10000 Zagreb, Croatia
EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 - Strategija biološke raznolikosti EU

• 3A) Agriculture: By 2020, maximise areas

under agriculture across grasslands, arable
land and permanent crops that are covered by
biodiversity-related measures under the CAP
so as to ensure the conservation of
biodiversity and to bring about a measurable
improvement(*) in the conservation status of
species and habitats that depend on or are
affected by agriculture and in the provision of
ecosystem services as compared to the
EU2010 Baseline, thus contributing to
enhance sustainable management.
 Types of HNV farmland
Type 1: high proportion of semi-
natural habitats
Type 2: mosaic of low-intensity
farming + natural and structural
elements (hedges, tree, walls,
terraces, patches of scrub or
woodland)
Type 3: rare species, or high %
of European/world population
3 15.1.2021.
Rural development program – Measure 10
Activities for conservatio of biodiversity
and environment are implemented
through 16 types of operation:
• 10.1.3. High nature value grasslands
• 10.1.4. Pilot measure for the corn crake
protection (Crex crex)
• 10.1.5. Pilot measure for the butterflyes
protection
 Pilot measure for the corn crake protection
Mjera za zaštitu kosca
CROATIA SLOVENIA
• Mowing after 1/8
1. Mowing after 15/8 (15/9 at the latest)
• Fertilization, mulching and grazing are prohibited
2.Mowing is allowed only by hand or strictly by
stickle mower
3.One to a maximum of two mowing is allowed per Additionally:
year VTR_NPAS: at least 0.3 ha; surface of unmowed part 5 to 10% of
4.The use of mineral fertilizers, manure and plant grassland area - mowed next year
protection products is prohibited.
5.On parcels larger than 1 ha it is obligatory to leave
the unmowed strip (up to 5% of the surface) along
the edge
6.Grassland can only be used in the autumn to end of
the year, with no more than 1.0 UG / ha of sheep,
goats, cattle and / or equidae present. The
minimum grazing pressure is 0.3 UG / ha
7. Removal of invasive species, weeds and woody
plants is obligatory
 Pilot measure for the butterflyes protection
Mjera za zaštitu leptira
CROATIA SLOVENIA

Operation Grassland Butterflies habitats (MET)

• mowing or grazing are not allowed from 15/6 to 15/9
• collection of hay
• fertilization and mulching are prohibited
• Additionally: at least 0.3 ha, the unmowed area of 5 to 10% of
the grassland is harvested next year

• the use of mineral fertilizers, manure and plant

protection products is prohibited Operation „Steljniki” (STE_KOS) - e.g. Coenonympha oedippus
• mowing by hand or stickle mowing machine Mowing or grazing are allowed until 25/8
• mowing permitted until October 1st
• grazing only during the autumn to the end of the year -
not more than 1.0 UG / ha of sheep, goats, cattle and / or
equidae. The minimum grazing pressure is 0.3 UG / ha
High Nature Value grassland (HNV)
• a type of agricultural land with a high proportion
of native and natural vegetation important for
the conservation of species and habitats
endangered at national and European level

Objective: Delaying mowing allows seed

production and prevents the disappearance of
typical plants that are an integral part of the lawn.
In this way, at the same time, the survival of
animals living in these specific habitats is
ensured.

The restoration and maintenance of extensive

grasslands of high natural value prevents the loss
of biodiversity, the disappearance of valuable and
rare habitats as well as characteristic landscapes.
Conservation of High Nature Value grasslands
• the use of mineral fertilizers, manure and
plant protection products is prohibited

Mowing periods
start region frequency
1. august Continental - 1x
lowland
20. july Hills & mountain 1 to 2x
15. july Mediterannean 1x
Conservation of High Nature Value grasslands - SLOVENIA
• No mowing or grazing is allowed until 20/5 e.i. 30/6
Additionally:
Fertilization with organic fertilizers only in a limited
amount (mineral fertilizers are not allowed, nitrogen
intake limited to 40 kg / ha).
Conservation of extensive grasslands

Hay Collection (HAB_MRVA)

• Seed propagation, conservation of grassland
diversity, insect survival and other species;
reducing the use of polyethylene film
HAB_NPAS: at least 0.3 ha, area of unpowered area 5 to
10% of lawn area - harvested next year
• Conservation of birds, butterflies and other grassland
species
• Seed dispersal
Other measures in Slovenia
• Mountain grazing
• Herd graizing
• Mountain graizing with shepard
• Protection of high slope grassland
habitats – hand mowing
• Humpback meadows
• Permanent grasslands
• Breeding domestic animals in the area
of occurrence of large carnivores
• Keeping flocks with high moving
electric fences and power grids
• Keeping a flock with a shepherd dog
 HNV grasslands in Europe

Country period
Bulgaria LOWLANDS = between 15 June and 15 July
MOUNTAINOUS = between 30 June and 15 August

Romania after 1 July.

Latvia after August 1 until September 15

Slovakia defines agricultural practices for 7 categories of

grassland habitats

10 15.1.2021. Oikon d.o.o. – Institut za primijenjenu ekologiju

Italy -example

• Mowing frequency
• N-input
• Yield per ha
• Adapted to altitude
Seasonal vegetation dynamics

SPOT – Vegetation programme

1km × 1km
Analyses: Climate change iniciative Land cover

Pag (Hrvatska) Biokovo (Hrvatska)

 Pag (Hrvatska) Kornati (Hrvatska)

Otočac (Hrvatska) Hrvace (Hrvatska)

Ćićarija (Hrvatska&SLO)
 • a few studies have demonstrated that earlymown
grasslands, in contrast, can be flower rich by the late
summer due to re-flowering after cutting
• for pollinator conservation, heterogeneous mowing
times within a landscape need to be encouraged
when possible, and that strict focus on late mowing early intermediate late
may lead to shortage of flower resources late in the late June late July after mid-August
summer.
Mowing time
15 15.1.2021. Footer text here
Conclusions
• Mowing date should be defined based on phenology analysis and specific neeeds
for certain species
• Satellite analysis of whole country (e.g. Sentinel – 10 m resolution)
• Optimize defined dates for each measure
• adapt the time of application to the climate
• Heterogeneous mowing times within a landscape need to be encouraged when
possible
• The diversity of application and the ability to select individual requirements
increases the ability to apply the measure
• adjust the amount of the fee to the location
• In Croatia - it is necessary to include a greater variety of measures - adapted to
climate (phenology), habitat and agricultural practices
• Diversification of measures - more species specific measures
 Thank you for your attention!
Hvala na pozornosti!

zrinka.mesic@vuka.hr

www.oikon.hr www.vuka.hr