Poland: Restrictions on Peatlands and Wetlands Farmers Should Know Before Changing Land Use
Polish farmers working peatlands, wetlands or ecologically valuable permanent grassland must consider the EU farm policy standard GAEC 2. It restricts changes in land use, but can also open the way to additional payments.
Farmers in Poland who work on designated peatlands and wetlands must comply with the GAEC 2 standard. It is one of the good agricultural and environmental condition requirements tied to the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and direct payments. Ecologically valuable permanent grassland needs particular attention: ploughing it up may create an obligation to restore it, along with penalties in payments. The explanation comes from Grzegorz Ignaczewski, an expert on the CAP and EU funds.
What restrictions apply
The standard covers designated wetland and peatland areas. On permanent grassland within them, the type of land use may not be changed. Arable land may remain arable, but it should not be cultivated deeper than 15 cm. New drainage installations may not be built, although existing drainage systems may be maintained. Before carrying out any work, farmers should check whether their plot lies within an area covered by the standard and what requirements apply to that specific land.
Possible additional support
Meeting GAEC 2 requirements does not rule out extra support. Farmers on the designated areas can apply for payments under the agri-environment-climate scheme, either for permanent grassland or for arable land. The expert also mentioned the option of a five-year commitment after converting arable land into permanent grassland. In that case the payment rate exceeds PLN 2,000 per hectare per year. Before making a commitment, farmers should check current conditions, payment availability and rates for the given application round.
Ecologically valuable grassland
Restrictions also apply to ecologically valuable permanent grassland, including areas within Natura 2000 sites that are marked as ecologically valuable. Such land should not be converted, for example, into arable land. If a farmer ploughs up such grassland, he or she may be required to restore it. The expert notes that breaching the GAEC standard may also lead to a penalty in direct payments.
How to check a plot's status
A plot's status can be checked in the eWniosekPlus application. After selecting the plot, the farmer can display the relevant map layer or expand the detailed information on the cadastral parcel. Farmers should verify both whether the land lies in a Natura 2000 area and whether it has been marked as ecologically valuable. Specific rules and payments may depend on the regulations in force and the conditions of a given application round.
