Suchergebnisse

The purpose of this review paper is to analyse and evaluate the development of sustainable agriculture in Lithuania from 1990 to the present and to evaluate possibilities, willingness and motivation of farmers to participate in sustainable agriculture. It was established that sustainable agriculture developed from environmentally friendly agriculture and later from organic agriculture. Initially, organic agriculture prevailed and included compliance with environmental requirements; however, later it incorporated social and economic approaches as well. This paper analyses the organic farming practices that stimulated the development of sustainable agriculture. Agri-environmental agriculture has been found to be more popular with farmers as it provides compensatory payments and requires basic environmental knowledge. This work compares farmers' motivation to participate not only in agri-environmental measures, but also in sustainable agriculture. Noteworthy, agri-environmental measures also have elements of sustainable development. The work compares the results of previous research on farmers' motivation and willingness to participate in environmentally friendly farming measures. The research reveals that participation in voluntary programmes has to be economically encouraged. The main findings are as follows: sustainable agriculture developed from organic agriculture gradually by integrating principles of sustainable development; the results of comparative analysis discovered that farmers with deeper understanding of environmental protection are more motivated to implement farming that relies on sustainable agriculture approaches. The research is based on analysis and evaluation through such methods as descriptive and comparative data analysis in previous and recent periods and questionnaire based data collection in order to evaluate new types of farming.

This article focuses on formation of environmental policy in different periods in Lithuania. The purpose of the article is to analyze main steps of development environmental policy. Some researchers keep opinion that the beginning of environmental policy started in the interwar period. Meanwhile more environmental specialists are following position that in this period had been not founded any specialized environmental institution and the roots of environmental policy cannot be in the interwar years. Actually development of environmental policy started after Second World War in the soviet period when Nature Conservation Act has been adopted and State Nature Protection Committee, and some environmental protection agencies had been founded. The beginning of modern environmental policy started in the beginning of re – establishing of the Independent Republic when Sate Environmental Protection Department has been founded and Environmental Protection Act has been adopted. The adoption of the State Environmental Protection Strategy and the National Environmental Protection Strategy are main current strategic instruments to develop modern environmental policy in Lithuania. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ppaa.18.1.23127

This article focuses on formation of environmental policy in different periods in Lithuania. The purpose of the article is to analyze main steps of development environmental policy. Some researchers keep opinion that the beginning of environmental policy started in the interwar period. Meanwhile more environmental specialists are following position that in this period had been not founded any specialized environmental institution and the roots of environmental policy cannot be in the interwar years. Actually development of environmental policy started after Second World War in the soviet period when Nature Conservation Act has been adopted and State Nature Protection Committee, and some environmental protection agencies had been founded. The beginning of modern environmental policy started in the beginning of re – establishing of the Independent Republic when Sate Environmental Protection Department has been founded and Environmental Protection Act has been adopted. The adoption of the State Environmental Protection Strategy and the National Environmental Protection Strategy are main current strategic instruments to develop modern environmental policy in Lithuania.

This article focuses on formation of environmental policy in different periods in Lithuania. The purpose of the article is to analyze main steps of development environmental policy. Some researchers keep opinion that the beginning of environmental policy started in the interwar period. Meanwhile more environmental specialists are following position that in this period had been not founded any specialized environmental institution and the roots of environmental policy cannot be in the interwar years. Actually development of environmental policy started after Second World War in the soviet period when Nature Conservation Act has been adopted and State Nature Protection Committee, and some environmental protection agencies had been founded. The beginning of modern environmental policy started in the beginning of re – establishing of the Independent Republic when Sate Environmental Protection Department has been founded and Environmental Protection Act has been adopted. The adoption of the State Environmental Protection Strategy and the National Environmental Protection Strategy are main current strategic instruments to develop modern environmental policy in Lithuania.

This article analyses the governance system for environmental protection in different periods in Lithuania. It has been stated that during the first period of Lithuanian independence, any specialised environmental protection institution has been established. The use and protection of natural resources has been under the responsibility of agricultural and forestry institutions. Development of the governance system for environmental protection began in the Soviet period after the Second World War, when the State Nature Protection Committee was established and the Nature Conservation Act adopted. The committee focused on the protection of biological diversity, natural resources and the landscape, with the conservation of non-living components of the environment under the responsibility of other institutions. There was a move towards comprehensive environmental preservation when the Environmental Protection Department was established under the Parliament of the Lithuanian Republic during the first year of the restoration of independence. A more widespread approach to preservation was put in place with the establishment of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and its later reorganisation as the Ministry of Environment, as well as the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency. This article analyses the country's frequent reorganisations of environmental protection institutions and argues that these create a governance system in this area that is not stable or effective.

This article analyses the governance system for environmental protection in different periods in Lithuania. It has been stated that during the first period of Lithuanian independence, any specialised environmental protection institution has been established. The use and protection of natural resources has been under the responsibility of agricultural and forestry institutions. Development of the governance system for environmental protection began in the Soviet period after the Second World War, when the State Nature Protection Committee was established and the Nature Conservation Act adopted. The committee focused on the protection of biological diversity, natural resources and the landscape, with the conservation of non-living components of the environment under the responsibility of other institutions. There was a move towards comprehensive environmental preservation when the Environmental Protection Department was established under the Parliament of the Lithuanian Republic during the first year of the restoration of independence. A more widespread approach to preservation was put in place with the establishment of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and its later reorganisation as the Ministry of Environment, as well as the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency. This article analyses the country's frequent reorganisations of environmental protection institutions and argues that these create a governance system in this area that is not stable or effective.

The aim of this article is to analyze and evaluate relations between sustainable agriculture and environmental agriculture programmes. Sustainable agriculture covers not only environmental, but social and economic activities which are not typical for environmental agriculture. It is also analyzed development of sustainable agriculture as well as agri – environmental programmes. In spite that sustainable agriculture cover social and economic activities, but it cannot be compared with traditional agriculture. Agri – environmental measures are wider used in the European Union countries, meanwhile sustainable agriculture is no very popular between farmers. It is discussed different scientific viewpoints and reasons why agri – environmental programmes are not sustainable. The article evaluate why implemented agri – environmental and conventional farming are not sustain in Lithuania. In order to investigate Lithuanian farmer's willingness to participate in sustainable farming, interviews with farmers were conducted. The results discovered that lack of knowledge on sustainable farming is main barrier and farmers are practices traditional farming. The investigation also discovered that insufficient understanding is main reason not to participate in voluntary programmes and farmers are willing to participate in more attractive social and economic measures.

The aim of this article is to analyze and evaluate relations between sustainable agriculture and environmental agriculture programmes. Sustainable agriculture covers not only environmental, but social and economic activities which are not typical for environmental agriculture. It is also analyzed development of sustainable agriculture as well as agri – environmental programmes. In spite that sustainable agriculture cover social and economic activities, but it cannot be compared with traditional agriculture. Agri – environmental measures are wider used in the European Union countries, meanwhile sustainable agriculture is no very popular between farmers. It is discussed different scientific viewpoints and reasons why agri – environmental programmes are not sustainable. The article evaluate why implemented agri – environmental and conventional farming are not sustain in Lithuania. In order to investigate Lithuanian farmer's willingness to participate in sustainable farming, interviews with farmers were conducted. The results discovered that lack of knowledge on sustainable farming is main barrier and farmers are practices traditional farming. The investigation also discovered that insufficient understanding is main reason not to participate in voluntary programmes and farmers are willing to participate in more attractive social and economic measures.

Abstract. Development of renewable energy sources together with sustainable development covers a complicated range of issues which require complex assessment in the context of Lithuania's energy independence. Hydropower is an integral part of renewable energy resources and affects both the natural environment and human society. Although negative impact of hydropower on the environment is acknowledged, advances in modern technology can reduce the potential damage, especially when developing a network of small hydropower plants in Lithuania. Moreover, implementation and continuity of this kind of projects enables to improve the economic and social situation, e.g. by creating new jobs. Construction of small hydropower plants in combination with a sustainable development strategy would help to avoid the possible damage to the natural environment and would contribute to improvement of the country's economic and social landscape. Limitation of the negative impact on the environment is primarily based on technological solutions – the appropriate construction of fish ladders or other passes at dams enables fish migration. Meanwhile, contribution to improvement of the economic and social situation in the case of small hydropower plants depends on political decisions and activity of lobby groups.

Abstract. Development of renewable energy sources together with sustainable development covers a complicated range of issues which require complex assessment in the context of Lithuania's energy independence. Hydropower is an integral part of renewable energy resources and affects both the natural environment and human society. Although negative impact of hydropower on the environment is acknowledged, advances in modern technology can reduce the potential damage, especially when developing a network of small hydropower plants in Lithuania. Moreover, implementation and continuity of this kind of projects enables to improve the economic and social situation, e.g. by creating new jobs. Construction of small hydropower plants in combination with a sustainable development strategy would help to avoid the possible damage to the natural environment and would contribute to improvement of the country's economic and social landscape. Limitation of the negative impact on the environment is primarily based on technological solutions – the appropriate construction of fish ladders or other passes at dams enables fish migration. Meanwhile, contribution to improvement of the economic and social situation in the case of small hydropower plants depends on political decisions and activity of lobby groups.

Roads affect wildlife in different ways. Road construction increases fragmentation of habitats, influences landscape pattern and alters the physical environment. Roads act as barriers to animal movements, increase their mortality rates and cause other negative impacts on biodiversity. The current paper overviews the assessment of road impacts in Lithuania, reviews approaches applied to evaluation of road development impacts as well as analyses application of Lithuanian legal documents in the field. In Lithuania, assessment of possible effects inflicted by envisaged road construction is determined by the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment of Planned Economic Activities and orders of the Ministry of Environment. Although the legislation covers some aspects of biodiversity, little attention is given to the assessment of the impact on biodiversity; meanwhile the impact assessment of proposed economic activities on Natura 2000 sites is clarified more extensively. Lithuanian methodological guidelines on determination of environmental impact assessment procedures and principles for the road network do not comply with international requirements concerning the biodiversity impact assessment of roads. The practiced biodiversity impact assessment used for road development projects in Lithuania complies with minimum requirements used in developed countries. To fulfil international requirements on biodiversity conservation, it is necessary to amend the Lithuanian legislation on environmental impact assessment and issue guidelines on biodiversity protection in road development projects. The article proposes models for calculation of road pollution dispersion for evaluation of air quality next to the already existing and newly projected roads. First Published Online: 26 Jun 2012

Roads affect wildlife in different ways. Road construction increases fragmentation of habitats, influences landscape pattern and alters the physical environment. Roads act as barriers to animal movements, increase their mortality rates and cause other negative impacts on biodiversity. The current paper overviews the assessment of road impacts in Lithuania, reviews approaches applied to evaluation of road development impacts as well as analyses application of Lithuanian legal documents in the field. In Lithuania, assessment of possible effects inflicted by envisaged road construction is determined by the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment of Planned Economic Activities and orders of the Ministry of Environment. Although the legislation covers some aspects of biodiversity, little attention is given to the assessment of the impact on biodiversity; meanwhile the impact assessment of proposed economic activities on Natura 2000 sites is clarified more extensively. Lithuanian methodological guidelines on determination of environmental impact assessment procedures and principles for the road network do not comply with international requirements concerning the biodiversity impact assessment of roads. The practiced biodiversity impact assessment used for road development projects in Lithuania complies with minimum requirements used in developed countries. To fulfil international requirements on biodiversity conservation, it is necessary to amend the Lithuanian legislation on environmental impact assessment and issue guidelines on biodiversity protection in road development projects. The article proposes models for calculation of road pollution dispersion for evaluation of air quality next to the already existing and newly projected roads. First Published Online: 26 Jun 2012