2_1_strict

The (non-cropped) ecological farm infrastructures must cover at least 5 % of the total farm surface (excluding forest).

Existing ecological infrastructure on the farm must be preserved.

Flowering field margins must be established as reservoirs of pest antagonists.

Areas of linear elements (e.g. flowering border strips, hedges, ditches, stone walls), and non-linear elements (e.g. groups of trees, ponds etc.), being present or to be planned on the farm should be connected and combined in such a manner that spatial and temporal continuity is obtained. This continuity is a prerequisite for the enhancement of fauna diversity and for the maintenance of a diverse landscape.

Note: The 5% rule does not apply to individual farm in areas with predominantly small farms, with highly scattered properties In such cases the alternative way to comply with the requirement is to designate a surface of 5% or more of a comparable and homogeneous agro-climatic unit (e.g. same municipal district), set aside as ecological infrastructure by official and well documented regional programs. In this case, it has to be shown that the ecological infrastructure areas are well distributed in time and space in the municipal area, thus providing a guaranteed continuity.