Identification of High Nature Value (HNV) farmland: support to non-EU accession countries In 2006-2007 UNEP ECO-Forum Biodiversity Issue Group team in cooperation with Regional Office for Europe of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/ROE) implemented the project "Identification of High Nature Value (HNV) farmland: support to non-EU accession countries". The project was supported by Norway Government. In 2003 the European Environment Agency (EEA) carried out a pilot study on possible approaches for identifying HNV farmland in the EU-15 countries. The results of that work were summarized in a joint report with UNEP (see http://reports.eea.eu.int/report_2004_1/en). However, this work on the distribution patterns of HNV farmland needs to be improved and extended to other EU member and non-member countries. That is why UNEP in collaboration with Biodiversity Issue Group of European ECO-Forum, having BIOTICA ES as a host organization, conducted the project for evaluating the state of HBVF in EECCA, taking into account the subregional peculiarities for updating the information related to this and for developing a common vision on necessary actions in this direction. Within this project the system of criteria and indicators of evaluating the special value of HNVF was developed, the distribution of different types of HNVF in EECCA region was analyzed, the evaluation of trends in HNVF state, number and area modification was done. Also some measures for situation improving were proposed from the point of view of biodiversity. This project included also a special case study on the territory of the Republic of Moldova that had the goal to find and to evaluate potential HNVF. The results were presented during the HNVF in EECCA region workshop that was conducted on 16-17 November 2006 in Chisinau. At the workshop representatives of EECCA countries, representatives of Parliament, Ministries of Moldova , Academy of Science and NGOs, as well as project experts took part. Within this project the Vision of the experts of the European ECO-Forum from the EECCA countries was elaborated, where the e cosystem classification of HNVF was proposed and were developed p rinciples, criteria and features for attribution of lands, corresponding to ecosystems classification, to HNV farmlands. Also in this documents were described examples of prominent HNVF from the region and were given recommendations and practical suggestions for conservation and sustainable use of HNVF. This document can be found here: Russian version and English version (unofficial translation).
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