Subsidy for ecosystem services provided by wetlands and species-rich grasslands ('Klimabonus Mouer a Wiss')
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The 'Klimabonus Mouer a Wiss' subsidy for ecosystem services provided by wetlands and species-rich grasslands was designed with the following purposes:
- adaptation to the effects of climate change;
- resilience of sensitive, species-rich wetlands and grasslands.
It aims to support you, as a private owner, in participating in measures to promote climate action and biodiversity by supporting the implementation of nature-based management.
The ultimate goal is to preserve the many services that wetland and grassland ecosystems provide to society, namely:
- soil protection;
- regulation of the hydrological regime;
- prevention of soil erosion;
- the preservation of biodiversity and an environment conducive to recreational activities and ecotourism;
- the provision of refuge areas for rare or endangered species;
- carbon absorption and storage;
- the guarantee of maintaining and improving eco-friendly connectivity.
Who is concerned
Private owners of land:
- located in Luxembourg; and
- occupied by protected biotopes or habitats of community interest linked to wetlands or sensitive species-rich grasslands.
Eligible lands
To be eligible for the subsidy, lands must satisfy all of the following criteria:
- they must correspond to protected biotopes or habitats of community interest in wetlands or aquatic environments, or open environments, as defined by the amended Grand Ducal regulation of 1 August 2018 on protected biotopes and habitats;
- they must comprise at least one undivided parcel of eligible land of at least 0.3 hectares in size;
- they must be located in a green zone.
You can consult the list of eligible species-rich wetland or grassland ecosystems.
Non-eligible lands
You are not eligible for the subsidy for lands on which specific work or management has been imposed by the Minister of the Environment in connection with authorisations subject to conditions during the relevant period.
Prerequisites
The lands:
- must feature a biotope or habitat that:
- is listed in the annex to the Grand Ducal regulation of 6 March 2025 establishing a subsidy for ecosystem services provided by wetlands and species-rich grasslands; and
- is listed in the biotope cadaster of the open landscapes on geoportail.lu;
- must not be subject to measures that:
- reduce the diversity of naturally occurring native species;
- reduce, destroy or damage protected biotopes or habitats of community interest.
For these lands, the owner commits to:
- preserve its ecosystems and the ecosystem services provided;
- avoid any changes to the terrain, soil or hydrological regime that would result in a deterioration of their ecological quality; and
- take appropriate measures, where necessary, to maintain or improve their ecological quality.
Deadlines
If you wish to receive the subsidy, you must submit an application before 1 October in which you undertake to comply with the conditions listed under 'Prerequisites' for a period of 10 consecutive calendar years.
The undertaking:
- commences on 1 January of the year following that in which the subsidy was approved; and
- expires on 31 December of its 10th year.
How to proceed
Filing an application
You can send your completed, dated and signed application for the 'Klimabonus Mouer a Wiss' subsidy (see 'Online services and forms'):
- either by post, to the Nature Department of the Nature and Forest Agency; or
- or by email, to kbmw@anf.etat.lu.
Supporting documents
You must also enclose with your application:
- information on the land for which you are applying for a subsidy (to be specified on the last page of the form, in the table);
- an extract from the cadastral map for the plots concerned;
- an extract from the topographical map (scale 1:10,000), showing the land and biotopes concerned;
- a bank account identification document (RIB);
Decision
Applications will be checked and reviewed by the Nature and Forest Agency. If necessary, it will seek the assistance of experts. The Minister with the portfolio for Environmental Affairs will render their decision as quickly as possible.
Amount of the subsidy
The amount of the subsidy is determined, depending on the total area of eligible land, on the basis of:
- geo-referenced data available from the Nature and Forest Agency; or
- the information provided in your application.
The subsidy will be paid once a year.
If the property is held in co-ownership, the subsidy will be paid to the person specified in the application.
Total surface area of eligible property less than or equal to 25 hectares
The standard annual amount is EUR 150 per hectare.
In addition to the standard amount, a supplement in the amount of EUR 100 per hectare per annum will be granted for eligible properties located in a:
- designated protected zone of community interest, also known as a Natura 2000 zone; or
- protected zone of natural interest declared as such by way of a Grand Ducal regulation; or
- protected zone harbouring water intended for human consumption.
Total surface area of eligible property greater than 25 hectares and less than or equal to à 50 hectares
The annual subsidy is:
- EUR 150 per hectare for the first 25 hectares;
- EUR 75 per supplementary hectare.
The annual subsidy is increased by:
- EUR 100 per hectare for the first 25 hectares;
- EUR 50 per supplementary hectare;
for eligible land located in a:
- designated protected zone of community interest, also known as a Natura 2000 zone; or
- protected zone of natural interest declared as such by way of a Grand Ducal regulation; or
- protected zone harbouring water intended for human consumption.
Total surface area greater than 50 hectares
The annual subsidy is:
- EUR 150 per hectare for the first 25 hectares;
- EUR 75 per hectare exceeding 25 hectares;
- EUR 37.5 per hectare exceeding 50 hectares.
The annual subsidy is increased by:
- EUR 100 per hectare for the first 25 hectares;
- EUR 50 per hectare exceeding 25 hectares;
- EUR 25 per hectare exceeding 50 hectares;
for eligible land located in a:
- designated protected zone of community interest, also known as a Natura 2000 zone; or
- protected zone of natural interest declared as such by way of a Grand Ducal regulation; or
- protected zone harbouring water intended for human consumption.
Obligations
Revocation of the undertaking
If you wish to revoke an undertaking with respect to part or all of the lands for which the subsidy was granted, you must do so by registered letter.
Nevertheless, you must continue to comply with the conditions until the undertaking expires (10 years), failing which you will be required to refund the subsidy.
Sale
If you sell land for which a subsidy has been granted, you must provide prior notification by registered letter to:
- the Nature and Forest Agency; and
- the buyer, as to the existence of the undertaking.
For any property sold during the term of the undertaking, you will be required to refund the entire amount received during that period, unless the buyer agrees to honour the undertaking until it expires.
Death
In the event of death, the undertaking will terminate automatically on the day of the death, unless the heirs agree to honour the undertaking until it expires.
Penalties
The 'Klimabonus Mouer a Wiss' subsidy will not be granted, or will have to be refunded, if, after having sent a formal demand to comply, you are found to be in breach of:
- the conditions for the granting of the subsidy; or
- the stipulations of the Grand Ducal regulation on protected zones.
Non-compliance
For the first instance of non-compliance, you will be required to refund the amounts received during the term of the undertaking for the land for which the subsidy was granted and where the instance of non-compliance was observed.
In the event of a subsequent instance of non-compliance, the undertaking will be terminated automatically. In that case, you will be required to refund the amounts received during the term of the undertaking for all land for which the subsidy was granted.
In the event of a repeat offence, you will be excluded from any future award of the 'Klimabonus Mouer a Wiss' subsidy.
Renewal of the subsidy
To renew an undertaking that has expired, you will need to submit a new application for the 'Klimabonus Mouer a Wiss' subsidy.
Appeals
If the subsidy is denied, you may lodge an administrative appeal against the decision rendered by the Minister with the portfolio for Environmental Affairs within 3 months of the date of notification of the decision.
If the appeal is unsuccessful, you may also lodge an appeal with the Ombudsman.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
-
Nature and Forest Agency (ANF) Nature Department (Klimabonus Mouer a Wiss)
- Address:
- 81, avenue de la Gare L-9233 Diekirch Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 56 600
- Email address:
- kbmw@anf.etat.lu
- Website:
- http://www.emwelt.lu/
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
le portail de l'environnement
Legal references
-
Loi modifiée du 19 décembre 2008
relative à l'eau
-
Loi modifiée du 18 juillet 2018
concernant la protection de la nature et des ressources naturelles
-
Règlement grand-ducal du 1er août 2018
établissant les biotopes protégés, les habitats d’intérêt communautaire et les habitats des espèces d’intérêt communautaire pour lesquelles l’état de conservation a été évalué non favorable, et précisant les mesures de réduction, de destruction ou de détérioration y relatives
-
Règlement grand-ducal du 6 mars 2025
instituant une prime pour la fourniture de services écosystémiques des zones humides et des herbages sensibles riches en espèces
