Increasing the effectiveness of agri-environmental measures in Lithuania: guidelines for the practical implementation of result-oriented payments

The potential of result-oriented agri-environmental measures (roAEM) to increase the effectiveness of standard action-based agrienvironmental measures (AEMs) is generating increased interest in Europe. A number of examples of roAEMs are or have been tested and implemented in Austria, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The implementation of roAEMs in German and French rural development programmes (RDPs) has shown that this approach is generally conforming to the current institutional framework of the second pillar of the CAP. The main objective of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework and guidelines for the implementation of roAEMs in Lithuania based on the lessons learnt from the existing result-oriented examples in other countries. Based on a review of 14 existing examples the paper discusses key dimensions and challenges to be considered in the development of a pilot scheme roAEMs in Lithuania. Existing evidence shows result-oriented payments are more targeted and deliver additional environmental benefits. Successful examples have started as simple result-oriented payments and build on existing AEMs by adding a result-oriented component to mainstream action-based AEMs. This suggests that the shift from action-based to result-oriented payments in Lithuania needs to be incremental, adding simple and comparably low risk result-oriented payments to existing action-based AEMs. Pilot schemes and trails are an important tool to test and validate developed indicators, payment levels and responses of participating farmers. There is a large amount of experience available to build on in designing trials and consequently a pilot scheme for Lithuania. A result-oriented component targeted at grassland biodiversity would be in line with the main agri-environmental objectives of the Lithuanian RDP and would address some of the existing key problems with the action-based grassland measure the Landscape Stewardship Scheme. The environmental targeting would be improved by linking the grassland payments to the desired biodiversity outcome and adding yearly monitoring of relevant biodiversity outcome indicators in relation to species diversity and abundance of plants, insects and birds (e.g. number of plant indicator species). The improved environmental targeting would also deliver a higher coverage of meadows with high biodiversity value.