1.2 Coordonnées des personnes-ressources et des institutions impliquées dans l'évaluation et la documentation de la Technologie

Nom du projet qui a facilité la documentation/ l'évaluation de la Technologie (si pertinent)

OPtimal strategies to retAIN and re-use water and nutrients in small agricultural catchments across different soil-climatic regions in Europe (OPTAIN)

Nom du ou des institutions qui ont facilité la documentation/ l'évaluation de la Technologie (si pertinent)

Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia – Institute of Agriculture and Forestry Maribor (KGZS) - Slovénie

1.3 Conditions relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées

Le compilateur et la(les) personne(s) ressource(s) acceptent les conditions relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées:

Oui

1.4 Déclaration sur la durabilité de la Technologie décrite

Est-ce que la Technologie décrite ici pose problème par rapport à la dégradation des terres, de telle sorte qu'elle ne peut pas être déclarée comme étant une technologie de gestion durable des terres?

Non

2.1 Courte description de la Technologie

Définition de la Technologie:

Riparian buffer strips are vegetative zones alongside watercourses. In compliance with EU and Slovenia’s Acts, these protective strips reduce soil erosion, filter pollutants, improve water quality, enhance biodiversity and support climate resilience.

2.2 Description détaillée de la Technologie

Description:

Riparian buffer strips are applied alongside all watercourses and drainage ditches in Slovenia. These buffer zones are legally mandated under the Water Act and GAEC 4 conditionality standards within the EU CAP 2023-2027 framework. Strips, of 3-15 m wide depending on size of the watercourse, serve as transition zones between cultivated fields and waterways, mitigating the impact of agriculture on aquatic ecosystems and surrounding environments.
Strips must comprise grasses, clover, alfalfa, native shrubs, and/or trees. The use of mineral and organic fertilizers is banned, as are pesticides and herbicides. Deep ploughing is prohibited, but surface tillage is allowed for maintenance and sowing (especially if the buffer strip is classified as agricultural land). Grazing is permitted, but with specific restrictions. If the farmer does not maintain the buffer strip, the area is excluded from the system of agricultural land in use and becomes ineligible for any subsidies.
The main purpose of riparian buffer strips is to protect and improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and support biodiversity. By intercepting surface runoff, they reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and pesticide contamination from agricultural land. The dense vegetation stabilizes riverbanks. The strips also enhance habitat connectivity for wildlife, providing nesting sites and food sources. Additionally, they play a role in flood mitigation by reducing the speed of stormwater runoff and thus improving water infiltration and retention.
To establish and maintain riparian buffer strips, an initial assessment of existing vegetation and soil determines whether additional planting is needed. If the area lacks sufficient vegetation, direct seeding with suitable species is carried out. Maintenance usually involves mowing, mulching, and occasional pruning. Pruning refers to the removal of overgrown trees and shrubs along the riverbank to prevent spreading onto agricultural land. This work typically requires tools such as a chainsaw and a tractor with a trailer for removing the cut woody material. Farmers must also comply with monitoring and reporting requirements under CAP regulations.
The benefits of riparian buffer strips are primarily environmental. By filtering pollutants before they enter watercourses, they contribute to cleaner water, reduced eutrophication, and improved aquatic ecosystems. They help maintain land productivity in the long term, reducing the need for costly interventions such as dredging or erosion control measures. The vegetation within the strips absorbs carbon, contributing to climate mitigation efforts. Additionally, by complying with regulations, farmers gain access to CAP subsidies and other environmental incentives, making implementation more financially viable.
Despite these advantages, land users have mixed opinions about such strips. Some farmers appreciate the additional forage production, and others find that the buffer zones serve as useful access paths around their fields, making machinery operation easier. However, many landowners dislike the loss of productive farmland, particularly those near first-order watercourses, where wider buffer strips are required. The loss of cultivated land can result in lower crop yields and income reductions, with farms experiencing up to a 6.2% decrease in arable land and financial losses estimated at 7,448 € per farm annually (Lešnik et al. 2024). Some farmers express concerns about the complexity of legal requirements and the costs associated with compliance and maintenance.
While riparian buffer strips are essential for environmental sustainability, their impact on farm economics must be carefully considered. Future strategies may involve flexible width requirements or integration with agroforestry systems to maximize their benefits while minimizing financial burdens.

2.3 Photos de la Technologie

2.5 Pays/ région/ lieux où la Technologie a été appliquée et qui sont couverts par cette évaluation

2.6 Date de mise en œuvre de la Technologie

Si l'année précise est inconnue, indiquez la date approximative: :

• il y a moins de 10 ans (récemment)

2.7 Introduction de la Technologie

• due to the legislative requirements of agricultural and water policy.

3.1 Principal(aux) objectif(s) de la Technologie

• réduire, prévenir, restaurer les terres dégradées
• préserver l'écosystème
• protéger un bassin versant/ des zones situées en aval - en combinaison avec d'autres technologies
• conserver/ améliorer la biodiversité

3.2 Type(s) actuel(s) d'utilisation des terres, là où la Technologie est appliquée

Les divers types d'utilisation des terres au sein du même unité de terrain: :

Non

Commentaires:

The area is generally classified as agricultural land but functions as a buffer zone along water bodies. Fodder crops are typically grown and either harvested for feed or mulched. In some cases, the area may be used for grazing livestock, although this is relatively rare.

3.3 Est-ce que l’utilisation des terres a changé en raison de la mise en œuvre de la Technologie ?

Est-ce que l’utilisation des terres a changé en raison de la mise en œuvre de la Technologie ?

• Oui (Veuillez remplir les questions ci-après au regard de l’utilisation des terres avant la mise en œuvre de la Technologie)

Les divers types d'utilisation des terres au sein du même unité de terrain: :

Non

3.4 Approvisionnement en eau

Approvisionnement en eau des terres sur lesquelles est appliquée la Technologie:

• pluvial

3.5 Groupe de GDT auquel appartient la Technologie

• Amélioration de la couverture végétale/ du sol
• gestion des eaux de surface (sources, rivières, lacs, mers)
• gestion/ protection des zones humides

3.6 Mesures de GDT constituant la Technologie

Commentaires:

It is considered a vegetative measure because it relies primarily on the establishment and management of permanent vegetation such as grasses, legumes (e.g., clover, alfalfa), shrubs, and trees.

3.7 Principaux types de dégradation des terres traités par la Technologie

3.8 Prévention, réduction de la dégradation ou réhabilitation des terres dégradées

Spécifiez l'objectif de la Technologie au regard de la dégradation des terres:

• prévenir la dégradation des terres
• réduire la dégradation des terres

4.1 Dessin technique de la Technologie

4.2 Informations générales sur le calcul des intrants et des coûts

Spécifiez la manière dont les coûts et les intrants ont été calculés:

• par superficie de la Technologie

autre/ monnaie nationale (précisez):

EUR

Indiquez le taux de change des USD en devise locale, le cas échéant (p.ex. 1 USD = 79.9 réal brésilien): 1 USD = :

0,87

4.3 Activités de mise en place/ d'établissement

	Activité	Calendrier des activités (saisonnier)
1.	Purchase grass seed mixture	1st year
2.	Pre-sowing preparation and sowing	1st year

Commentaires:

Select grass species or mixtures adapted to local soil and climatic conditions. Minimal soil disturbance recommended; shallow cultivation to ensure proper seed-soil contact.

4.4 Coûts et intrants nécessaires à la mise en place

	Spécifiez les intrants	Unité	Quantité	Coûts par unité	Coût total par intrant	% des coût supporté par les exploitants des terres
Main d'œuvre	Own labor	hour	3,0	9,0	27,0	100,0
Main d'œuvre	Pre-sowing preparation and sowing	hour	3,0	35,0	105,0	100,0
Matériel végétal	Grass seed mixture	kg/ha	16,412	5,6	91,91	100,0
Coût total de mise en place de la Technologie					223,91
Coût total de mise en place de la Technologie en dollars américains (USD)					257,37

Commentaires:

Labor and pre-sowing preparation and sowing also include travel time between sites. The total size of the farm is 31,2 hectares. An area of 4103 m² falls under the restricted buffer strip zone at his farm.

4.5 Activités d'entretien/ récurrentes

	Activité	Calendrier/ fréquence
1.	Mulching/mowing	2 times per year
2.	Pruning and clearing of overgrowth	1 time, winter time

Commentaires:

4103 m² of agricultural land represents the buffer strips that the farmer actively manages and maintains. Pruning or cutting of woody vegetation, such as trees or shrubs, when they begin to encroach on agricultural land near the riverbank. Farmers typically carry out this work in winter, but it is difficult to estimate the cost, as it can vary significantly depending on the extent of overgrowth.

4.6 Coûts et intrants nécessaires aux activités d'entretien/ récurrentes (par an)

	Spécifiez les intrants	Unité	Quantité	Coûts par unité	Coût total par intrant	% des coût supporté par les exploitants des terres
Main d'œuvre	Mulching/mowing	hours	6,0	32,0	192,0	100,0
Main d'œuvre	Pruning and clearing of overgrowth	hours	4,0	4,5	18,0	100,0
Main d'œuvre	Own labor	hours	10,0	9,0	90,0	100,0
Coût total d'entretien de la Technologie					300,0
Coût total d'entretien de la Technologie en dollars américains (USD)					344,83

Commentaires:

Opportunity costs were calculated based on the loss of arable land due to the establishment of buffer zones in 2024 on Farm Ropic (total farm size: 32,2 ha, of which 28,6 ha is arable land). The planned crop rotation for that year included wheat, oil pumpkins, barley, and maize. The income foregone represents the estimated revenue that could have been generated from these crops on the area now designated as buffer strips (a total of 4103 m² of arable land).
The estimated income losses by crop type are:
Winter wheat: 113.52 €
Oil pumpkin: 396.80 €
Winter barley: 120.60 €
Grain maize: 68.04 €.

4.7 Facteurs les plus importants affectant les coûts

Décrivez les facteurs les plus importants affectant les coûts :

Exact costs are difficult to estimate as they depend heavily on the specific location. If regular maintenance, such as mulching/mowing, is carried out, annual costs remain low, and pruning and clearing of overgrowth work is likely unnecessary. Costs are calculated for farm Ropič.

5.1 Climat

5.2 Topographie

Indiquez si la Technologie est spécifiquement appliquée dans des:

• situations concaves

Commentaires et précisions supplémentaires sur la topographie:

There are depressions, settlements are in the valley, concave type.

5.3 Sols

5.4 Disponibilité et qualité de l'eau

La salinité de l'eau est-elle un problème? :

Non

La zone est-elle inondée?

Oui

Régularité:

épisodiquement

Commentaires et précisions supplémentaires sur la qualité et la quantité d'eau:

Hydromelioration was carried out in the area, a drainage system and water retention systems (e.g. ponds and basins) were arranged.

5.5 Biodiversité

5.6 Caractéristiques des exploitants des terres appliquant la Technologie

5.7 Superficie moyenne des terres utilisées par les exploitants des terres appliquant la Technologie

5.8 Propriété foncière, droits d’utilisation des terres et de l'eau

Propriété foncière:

• individu, avec titre de propriété

Droits d’utilisation des terres:

• loué
• individuel

Droits d’utilisation de l’eau:

• communautaire (organisé)

Précisez:

Based on national legal system.

5.9 Accès aux services et aux infrastructures

6.1 Impacts sur site que la Technologie a montrés

Impacts socio-économiques

Production

Disponibilité et qualité de l'eau

Revenus et coûts

Impacts socioculturels

Impacts écologiques

Cycle de l'eau/ ruissellement

Sols

Biodiversité: végétale, animale

Réduction des risques de catastrophe et des risques climatiques

Précisez l'évaluation des impacts sur site (sous forme de mesures):

The data provided are not based on direct measurements but are derived from statements by the land user (farmer) and expert judgement from an agricultural adviser. They reflect practical experience and informed estimates rather than measured field data.

6.2 Impacts hors site que la Technologie a montrés

Précisez l'évaluation des impacts extérieurs (sous forme de mesures):

The data provided are not based on direct measurements but are derived from statements by the land user (farmer) and expert judgement from an agricultural adviser. They reflect practical experience and informed estimates rather than measured field data.

6.3 Exposition et sensibilité de la Technologie aux changements progressifs et aux évènements extrêmes/catastrophes liés au climat (telles que perçues par les exploitants des terres)

Changements climatiques progressifs

Changements climatiques progressifs

	Saison	Augmentation ou diminution	Comment la Technologie fait-elle face à cela?
températures annuelles		augmente	modérément
températures saisonnières	été	augmente	modérément
températures saisonnières	printemps	augmente	modérément
températures saisonnières	automne	augmente	modérément
températures saisonnières	hiver	augmente	modérément
précipitations saisonnières	été	augmente	très bien
précipitations saisonnières	printemps	augmente	très bien
précipitations saisonnières	automne	décroît	modérément

Extrêmes climatiques (catastrophes)

Catastrophes météorologiques

	Comment la Technologie fait-elle face à cela?
pluie torrentielle locale	très bien

Catastrophes climatiques

	Comment la Technologie fait-elle face à cela?
canicule	bien

Catastrophes hydrologiques

	Comment la Technologie fait-elle face à cela?
inondation générale (rivière)	très bien
crue éclair	très bien

6.4 Analyse coûts-bénéfices

Quels sont les bénéfices comparativement aux coûts de mise en place (du point de vue des exploitants des terres)?

Quels sont les bénéfices comparativement aux coûts d'entretien récurrents (du point de vue des exploitants des terres)?

Commentaires:

Establishment costs are high, including soil preparation, seeding, and potential fencing, while the loss of productive land immediately reduces farm income. Subsidies may offset some costs, but they do not fully compensate for the initial financial impact. In a long-term benefits such as improved soil stability, water quality, and flood protection reduce future expenses. Over time, subsidies, reduced erosion, and potential fodder production help balance the initial investment.

Maintenance costs, such as mowing or mulching and tree maintenance, add labor and equipment expenses, but the absence of fertilizer and pesticide costs helps balance them. Subsidies for maintaining buffer strips further offset these recurrent costs, keeping short-term financial impact neutral. Once vegetation is established, maintenance costs decrease, requiring only occasional mowing or grazing. Over time, benefits like erosion control, improved soil health, and reduced flood damage outweigh the minimal upkeep expenses, making the practice economically sustainable.

6.5 Adoption de la Technologie

• > 50%

Si disponible, quantifiez (nombre de ménages et/ou superficie couverte):

All farmers in the area must comply with the implementation of riparian buffer strips as part of the GAEC 4 standard under CAP conditionality. This means that all agricultural land users with fields adjacent to watercourses are required to establish and maintain these protective strips, ensuring compliance with national and EU environmental regulations.

De tous ceux qui ont adopté la Technologie, combien d'entre eux l'ont fait spontanément, à savoir sans recevoir aucune incitation matérielle, ou aucune rémunération? :

• 0-10%

6.6 Adaptation

La Technologie a-t-elle été récemment modifiée pour s'adapter à l'évolution des conditions?

Oui

autre (précisez):

CAP

Spécifiez l'adaptation de la Technologie (conception, matériaux/ espèces, etc.):

The requirements for riparian buffer strips have been updated to align with GAEC 4 conditionality and the EU Strategic Plan Regulation. The establishment of buffer strips is now mandatory along first-order watercourses (15 m wide), second-order watercourses (5 m wide), and drainage ditches (3 m wide).
Within these buffer zones, the use of organic and mineral fertilizers, as well as plant protection products (PPPs), is strictly prohibited. Ploughing is not allowed, but shallow tillage is permitted for maintenance (mowing, mulching, or grazing) and for preparing soil for sowing approved crops.
The buffer strips can be covered with grass, grass-legume mixtures, clover, alfalfa, naturally occurring vegetation, shrubs, or trees. Livestock grazing is permitted but must not alter the structure of the riverbank. Animals cannot be supplementary fed within the buffer zones and must be provided drinking water only at designated, controlled locations in small groups to minimize environmental impact.

6.7 Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités de la Technologie

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue de l'exploitant des terres
Buffer strips stabilize soil and prevent erosion.
They reduce the impact of flooding on agricultural land.
Less leaching of nutrients and plant protection products into water.
Additional turning point and driving path for machines.
Establishing and maintaining buffer strips can qualify farmers for financial incentives and support programs.
Additional shelters for wildlife.

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé
These buffers effectively filter out nutrients, pesticides, and sediments from agricultural runoff, thereby enhancing the quality of nearby water bodies.
By stabilizing stream banks, riparian buffers reduce soil erosion, preserving valuable topsoil and maintaining land productivity.
They provide critical habitats for various wildlife species, promoting biodiversity and creating wildlife corridors in agricultural landscapes.
Riparian buffer strips contribute to ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and pollination, supporting broader environmental goals.

6.8 Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques de la Technologie et moyens de les surmonter

Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques du point de vue de l’exploitant des terres	Comment peuvent-ils être surmontés?
The buffer zones are too wide, significantly reducing cultivated land area, which negatively impacts crop yields and farm income.	Increase subsidies and financial incentives for farmers to compensate for the loss of productive land within riparian buffer strips.
Maintenance tasks such as mowing, mulching, or controlled grazing require extra labor and resources and establishing buffer strips involves expenses for seeds, machinery, soil preparation, and potential fencing.	Provide additional payments for ongoing maintenance activities or investment support to offset initial establishment costs.
The legislation and administrative requirements are complex, involving numerous regulations that farmers find difficult to understand and follow.	Provide more accessible, user-friendly information, along with targeted advisory services and educational programs to help farmers better navigate these rules.

Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé	Comment peuvent-ils être surmontés?
In certain conditions, the redirected flow of water due to buffer strips may weaken streambanks, leading to erosion and land loss.	Designing buffer zones with appropriate vegetation, width and adapted to local conditions, and regularly monitoring the situation.
Over time, buffer strips can become saturated with nutrients, reducing their effectiveness and possibly turning them into sources of pollution.	Regular vegetation management, harvesting or removal of biomass to prevent nutrient accumulation. Crop rotation or periodic rejuvenation of buffer zone vegetation to maintain its filtering capacity.
Proper upkeep involves tasks like weed control, pruning, replanting, and protection against wildlife, increasing the workload for farmers.	Provide farmers with targeted financial support or subsidies for maintenance tasks, promote low-maintenance vegetation species, and offer technical assistance or training in efficient management practices.
Initial setup requires investment in planting, while ongoing maintenance demands additional labor and resources.	Offer financial incentives, subsidies, or cost-sharing programs to cover initial establishment expenses, and provide ongoing support or training to minimize labor and maintenance costs.

7.1 Méthodes/ sources d'information

7.2 Références des publications disponibles

Titre, auteur, année, ISBN:

Cole, L. J., Stockan, J., & Helliwell, R. (2020). Managing riparian buffer strips to optimise ecosystem services: A review. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 296, 106891.

Disponible à partir d'où? Coût?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2020.106891

Titre, auteur, année, ISBN:

Macleod, C. J. A., Haygarth, P. M., et al. (2022). Impacts of different vegetation in riparian buffer strips on runoff and suspended sediment loss. Environmental Research Communications, 4(1), 015001.

Disponible à partir d'où? Coût?

https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ac3c2b

Titre, auteur, année, ISBN:

Dlamini, J. C., Cardenas, L. M., Tesfamariam, E. H., Dunn, R. M., Loick, N., Charteris, A. F., Cocciaglia, L., Vangeli, S., Blackwell, M. S. A., Upadhayay, H. R., et al. (2022). Riparian buffer strips influence nitrogen losses as nitrous oxide and leached N from upslope permanent pasture. Agriculture, Ecosystems &

Disponible à partir d'où? Coût?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2022.108031

Titre, auteur, année, ISBN:

Lešnik, T., Bogovič, D., Pokupec, D., & Borec, A. (2024). The impact of riparian zones along rivers under the new CAP in Slovenia. Journal of Central European Agriculture, 25(4), 1185–1192.

Disponible à partir d'où? Coût?

https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/25.4.4348

7.3 Liens vers les informations pertinentes en ligne

Titre/ description:

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food. (2024). Unified Application 2024: Guidelines for the implementation of interventions under the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027. Ljubljana, Slovenia.

URL:

https://www.kgzs.si/uploads/eiv24/NAVODILA%201/00_VELIKA_NAVODILA_2024_-_CELOTA_-_28_5_24.pdf