Analyse des rechtlichen Rahmens und von Förderprogrammen für die Neuanlage von Hecken

Hedgerows provide a variety of ecosystem services such as erosion control, improvement of the microclimate and wood production. They are an important habitat for plants and animals in the agricultural landscape. In addition, there is a new focus on the climate protection potential of hedges as carbon sequestration of hedgerows per hectare is comparable to estimates for forests. Thus, the political goal is to greatly expand hedgerow structures in Germany by 2030 as a measure for nature-based solutions. However, the increase of hedgerows has been low in recent years. To identify reasons, a literature analysis was carried out. The current legal framework and existing funding programmes for hedgerows were investigated. Based on this, factors that promote or hinder the planting of new hedgerows were identified. Legal regulations have to be considered when planting, managing and maintaining hedgerows. These can have an inhibiting effect. A major obstacle is the ban on the removal of hedgerows as usable agricultural land is permanently removed. Furthermore, the protection of hedgerows under the federal nature conservation law makes it difficult to utilise hedgerow products beyond the use of cuttings. Besides, the lack of availability of native woody plants and fear of sanctions due to the large number and associated complexity of legal regulations have to be considered as an inhibiting factor. Nearly every federal state in Germany offers area-based or investment-based funding measures that can support the development of hedgerows. They vary in terms of funding objective, funding amounts, territorial scope and funding recipients. Possible factors for low take-up are insufficient funding amounts, financial hurdles due to advance payments, a lack of clarity of funding programmes, a lack of targeting of landowners, low financial incentives for maintenance of hedgerows and bureaucratic funding procedures. Funding programmes with comparatively high fixed funding amounts are called up the most. To make the planting of hedges financially attractive, the reduction in land value has to be taken into account in funding programmes. There is a clear focus on nature conservation both in funding programmes and in law considering hedgerows. The climate protection potential of hedgerows has not yet been taken into account in funding programmes. With regard to climate protection, CO2-certificates could play an important role in the future as part of carbon farming.