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The study demonstrates that a simplified plant indicator scoring method suitable for use in the field can help link support payments to measurable biodiversity outcomes, while also increasing land managers’ understanding of grassland quality. This approach complements traditional action-based agri-environment measures by giving landowners greater flexibility to choose the most appropriate management practices while maintaining a clearly defined and measurable nature conservation objective.
The development of results-based agri-environment measures is particularly important in Latvia, as the conservation of biologically valuable and potentially valuable grasslands depends not only on carrying out prescribed management activities, but also on whether those activities actually improve or maintain the ecological quality of a particular grassland. A results-based approach allows land managers greater flexibility to adapt grazing or mowing practices to local farm conditions, while linking the level of support to measurable nature conservation outcomes.
About the ‘Blooming Meadows’ Pilot Programme
Through the LatViaNature project, the Nature Conservation Agency has been testing new models of voluntary cooperation with private landowners in Latvia, introducing a contractual approach to the conservation of natural values through the ‘Blooming Meadows’ pilot programme. The programme aims to develop biodiversity-rich grasslands on privately owned land outside protected areas. Participants manage permanent grasslands and receive tailored annual advisory and financial support, as well as training on measures to enhance biodiversity.
The programme applies an innovative results-based approach in Latvia: the greater the biodiversity achieved in a grassland, the higher the financial support provided. Together with experts from the University of Latvia and the Nature Conservation Agency, participants take part in annual grassland biodiversity monitoring, recording plant species and assessing grassland structure.
The ‘Blooming Meadows’ pilot programme runs from 2023 to 2026. It involves 65 participants from across Latvia, collectively managing 678 hectares of permanent grassland. Testing these new cooperation models through the pilot programme will provide a basis for developing recommendations to improve incentive mechanisms at national level and to engage private landowners more effectively in the conservation of natural values.
Experience from the Baltic States
Similar approaches are also being trialled in Lithuania and Estonia. In Lithuania, the LIFE integrated project NATURALIT has piloted a results-based agri-environment scheme for the conservation of species-rich natural grasslands, in which payments are linked to biodiversity results assessed using indicator plant species. In Estonia, grassland quality assessment has been piloted since 2023 as part of the support system for semi-natural grasslands.
One of the study’s key conclusions is that managers of semi-natural grasslands in Estonia are motivated to continue their work, but existing action-based payments often fail to reflect local ecological and farming conditions. The authors recommend more flexible, results-based support, more comprehensive advisory services and closer cooperation between land managers, experts and institutions.
Overall, experience from the Baltic States shows that the successful implementation of results-based measures requires simple and reliable indicators, high-quality advisory support, active involvement of land managers and sufficiently flexible support conditions.
Information prepared by the University of Latvia, a partner of the LIFE-IP LatViaNature project.
