Terres, Jean-Michel
[Contributor];
Toth, T.
[Contributor];
Wania, A.
[Contributor];
Hagyo, Andrea
[Contributor];
Koeble, R.
[Contributor];
Nisini, L.
[Contributor]
;
European Commission Joint Research Centre
Updated guidelines for applying common criteria to identify agricultural areas with natural constraints
Description:
This document provides guidelines for mapping the proposed common soil, climate and terrain criteria for agricultural areas with natural constraints, as set out in the EU Regulation 1305/2013. It is written for scientific and technical officers in the Member State administrations in charge of applying the common biophysical criteria for the delimitation of areas under natural constraints, as set out in Article 32 of EU Regulation cited above, and replacing the so-called "intermediate" Less Favoured Areas denomination. Guidelines have been prepared by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre as part of its technical support to the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development on the redefinition of Areas with Natural Constraints. The report provides information and explanations on how to apply the common biophysical criteria within the Member States. It gives the definition, agronomic importance, threshold and description of how to assess each criterion, and describes how the classified agricultural areas with natural constraints can be aggregated. The guidelines draw on the experience from meetings with Member States and application of the common biophysical criteria on a pan-European level. The report does not change the earlier recommendations from previous documents. Its aim is to provide updated guidance answering questions from MS during the ongoing delineations. These updated guidelines are also used as references by the JRC when assessing MS delineation methods. In this sense, this document contributes to a transparent process.