Compensation for Disadvantages in Protected Areas of Nature and Landscape (Compensation for Disadvantages Directive)

The guideline "Compensation for Disadvantages in Protected Parts of Nature and Landscape" supports agricultural enterprises in Bremen in partially offsetting the additional costs and income losses arising from requirements in particularly protected nature conservation and landscape protection areas. In particular, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises as defined by the EU SME definition receive a subsidy for the management of permanent grassland areas from 0.5 hectares or biotopes from 0.25 hectares. The funding includes compensation payments for additional expenses related to soil cultivation, grazing, fertilization, or mowing times. Areas that have already received compensation under § 68 paragraphs 1–3 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG) are excluded from funding. Applications are submitted electronically via the ANDI program (Agricultural Funding Lower Saxony Digital), with initial applications to be submitted within three months after the relevant regulation comes into effect and subsequent applications by May 15 of each year.

With the subsidy objective of securing comprehensive grassland management in Natura 2000 sites, European bird protection and FFH areas, as well as other protected areas, the measure promotes both environmental and climate protection equally. Comprehensive documentation of agricultural measures is a prerequisite for application and ensures transparency regarding ecological goals and operational processes. Through the combination of financial relief and professional support from the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture, sustainable management models are strengthened, and the ecological coherence of protected landscape areas is preserved in the long term.