EU LIFE project tests new funding option for AUKM

Mire-friendly water management and meadow birds protection

In the context of the EU-LIFE project Limicodra, the AUKM “extensive management of permanent grassland areas” runs the testing of additional funding option “mire-friendly water managemnet and meadow birds protection” from this year on. Agricultural, environmental and climate protection measures (AUKM) are agricultural funding instruments that make sustainable production processes financially more attractive for farmers.

Areas in which the water level is kept at 30 cm below the surface from January to the end of May are eligible for funding. The water level is set at a weir, a maximum of 30% of the requested parcel may be above this water level. At the same time, the farmers tolerate protective measures for meadow breeding birds, such as the construction of mobile clutch fences or partial watering in the event of drought.

For the next 2 years, about 350 hectares of land were applied for, the additional funding amounts to 210 € / hectare. This compensates for the difficulties in farming and provides financial incentives to “produce breeding birds” in addition to feed for cattle. In addition, an important contribution to climate protection is made, since the water level improvement reduces the emission of climate-damaging gases.

As a technical service provider for the state of M-V, the LIFE project coordinated the congestion targets with the farmers and the water and soil associations and supported the farmers in determining the eligible parcels. Based on the experience, a funding program is to be developed so that in future the program can be applied for throughout Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.