HNV farming

Due to the variation in data availability, physical/ecological situation and farming systems and practices across Member States, it is not appropriate to impose a common methodology for the assessment of HNV farming. Use of one single method would restrict the analysis to data available throughout the EU, which would exclude the richest and most relevant data sources, and preclude those Member States which have developed more refined methods from using them, with a consequent reduction in the quality and accuracy of the assessment.

A full assessment of HNV farming would consider both extent and quality/condition. The indicator definition proposed here only covers the extent of HNV areas, since in most Member States current methodology is not sufficiently developed to provide reliable indications of the condition of HNV areas. However, Member States are strongly encouraged to continue developing and refining the approaches used so that quality/condition can be incorporated into HNV assessments.

Additional information on HNV farming throughout the EU is available in the recently published book “High Nature Value Farming in Europe”. The Directorate-General Environment (DG ENV) study on "The High Nature Value farming concept throughout EU 27 and its maturity for financial support under the CAP" (starting October 2012) may also provide further information on assessment methodologies which could be a support to Member States.

As for all other indicators, it is necessary to have an estimated value for this indicator for all Member States. Until an appropriate specific method for estimating HNV is identified and used by the Member State authorities, there are two existing sources of data which could be used in the interim to provide a value, although both have considerable limitations and do not give a representative assessment of the extent of HNV. Use of these values is a second-best alternative compared to use of a more accurate and appropriate method. These data sources are mentioned here solely to provide an initial fall-back option in cases where a Member State has not yet made sufficient progress to be able to provide more accurate starting values based on more appropriate and specific data and methods. The two fall-back options are:

1) Estimation of HNV farmland from CORINE land cover data (EEA study) Limitations:

This approach does not take account of farming systems.
Land cover assessments do not always distinguish well between abandoned land with encroaching scrub, and extensive semi-natural grassland with patches of bushes or scattered trees.
The scale used may mean that smaller areas, such as agricultural parcels within wooded areas are missed completely.
The area of agricultural land estimated from CORINE land cover data does not correspond to EUROSTAT's UAA data.
The EEA exercise is not updated regularly, so it does not provide a dynamic picture.

This approach does not take account of farming systems.
It is static rather than dynamic.
It underestimates the extent of HNV since it primarily addresses only Type 3 HNV farmland rather than all 3 types.

Type of indicator	Environment
Indicator C37	HNV (high nature value) farming
Definition	This indicator is defined as the percentage of Utilised Agricultural Area farmed to generate High Nature Value. High Nature Value (HNV) farming results from a combination of land use and farming systems which are related to high levels of biodiversity or the presence of certain species and habitats. The common definition established inter alia by the EEA and JRC, recognises three categories of farmland as HNV: Type 1: Farmland with a high proportion of semi-natural vegetation Type 2: Farmland with a mosaic of low intensity agriculture and natural and structural elements, such as field margins, hedgerows, stone walls, patches of woodland or scrub, small rivers etc Type 3: Farmland supporting rare species or a high proportion of European or world populations. This indicator is a further development of AEI 23 "High Nature Value Farmland", and the farmland component of the 2007-2013 CMEF Baseline indicator 18 "High Nature Value farmland and forestry". Methodology: For the purposes of this indicator, the common parameter "HNV farming", as defined above, is to be assessed within each Member State and individual RDP area using methods suited to the prevailing bio-physical characteristics and farming systems, and based on the highest quality and most appropriate data available. The Member State authorities are responsible for conducting this assessment and providing the values to the Commission. Methodological guidance for establishing values for this indicator has been provided in "The application of the High Nature Value impact indicator" Evaluation Expert Network (2009) : http://enrd.ec.europa.eu/app_templates/filedownload.cfm?id=6A6B5D2F-ADF1-0210-3AC3-AD86DFF73554 Several Member States raised the issue of comparability and/or aggregation if different methodologies are used. Agreement on the common parameter being measured, and transparency and acceptance of the various methodologies, whilst not ideal, allows for aggregation, since in all areas the land considered to fulfil the criteria for one of the three HNV types is assessed, provided that Member States have selected methodology appropriate to identifying HNV in their biophysical situation. The purpose of this indicator is not to make comparisons between territories on the basis of the extent of HNV land, but rather to consider the trends in its preservation and /or enhancement. It is therefore important that in each territory the same methodology is used for each successive assessment, so that trends are estimated correctly. When more accurate methods are developed, leading to a change in the methodology used, HNV assessments should be recalculated for the baseline year to ensure that the trend can be captured. If this is not possible, then the new methodology should be used alongside the old to allow trends to be assessed.
Unit of measurement	Percentage (%) The absolute area of utilised agricultural area (UAA) in hectares, and of HNV farmland, is also required, to allow for aggregation to Member State/EU level.
Data source	The data sources for estimation of HNV farming are many and varied, and currently depend on the methods selected by the Member State authorities. Analysis relies principally on national/regional data, but also includes use of some EU data sets. Sources include: CORINE and other land cover data, IACS/LPIS, agricultural census data, species and habitat databases, GIS, specific sampling surveys, RDP monitoring data, designations (NATURA, national nature reserves etc.).
References/location of the data	For assessment of HNV farmland national/regional data are required (see above) UAA: EUROSTAT FSS national and regional data
Data collection level	The indicator should be established at either national, NUTS 1 or NUTS 2 level. Values should be obtained which correspond to RDP territory level. Large Member States may consider it appropriate to have a regional assessment, particularly where there are large regional variations in climate, topography, biodiversity, landscape and/or farming patterns. The level at which the data is available varies with the data source (see description above).
Frequency	Variable. Minimum requirement is 3 times between 2013 and 2022: a baseline assessment at the start of the 2014-2020 period (ideally for 2012 or 2013), an assessment at the end of the period (to coincide with the ex-post evaluation of the RDP territory), and one update during the period (ideally for 2017 or 2018).
Delay	Variable (depends on the data sources used, frequency of surveys/sampling, etc.).
Comments/caveats	Due to the variation in data availability, physical/ecological situation and farming systems and practices across Member States, it is not appropriate to impose a common methodology for the assessment of HNV farming. Use of one single method would restrict the analysis to data available throughout the EU, which would exclude the richest and most relevant data sources, and preclude those Member States which have developed more refined methods from using them, with a consequent reduction in the quality and accuracy of the assessment. A full assessment of HNV farming would consider both extent and quality/condition. The indicator definition proposed here only covers the extent of HNV areas, since in most Member States current methodology is not sufficiently developed to provide reliable indications of the condition of HNV areas. However, Member States are strongly encouraged to continue developing and refining the approaches used so that quality/condition can be incorporated into HNV assessments. Additional information on HNV farming throughout the EU is available in the recently published book “High Nature Value Farming in Europe”. The Directorate-General Environment (DG ENV) study on "The High Nature Value farming concept throughout EU 27 and its maturity for financial support under the CAP" (starting October 2012) may also provide further information on assessment methodologies which could be a support to Member States. As for all other indicators, it is necessary to have an estimated value for this indicator for all Member States. Until an appropriate specific method for estimating HNV is identified and used by the Member State authorities, there are two existing sources of data which could be used in the interim to provide a value, although both have considerable limitations and do not give a representative assessment of the extent of HNV. Use of these values is a second-best alternative compared to use of a more accurate and appropriate method. These data sources are mentioned here solely to provide an initial fall-back option in cases where a Member State has not yet made sufficient progress to be able to provide more accurate starting values based on more appropriate and specific data and methods. The two fall-back options are: 1) Estimation of HNV farmland from CORINE land cover data (EEA study) Limitations: This approach does not take account of farming systems. Land cover assessments do not always distinguish well between abandoned land with encroaching scrub, and extensive semi-natural grassland with patches of bushes or scattered trees. The scale used may mean that smaller areas, such as agricultural parcels within wooded areas are missed completely. The area of agricultural land estimated from CORINE land cover data does not correspond to EUROSTAT's UAA data. The EEA exercise is not updated regularly, so it does not provide a dynamic picture. 2) Area of UAA contained within designated NATURA 2000 sites. Limitations: This approach does not take account of farming systems. It is static rather than dynamic. It underestimates the extent of HNV since it primarily addresses only Type 3 HNV farmland rather than all 3 types.