AGRI-ECO SERVICES

Measuring ecosystem services of High Nature Value farmland through landscape and biodiversity indicators

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Among the ecosystem services provided by European agriculture, the conservation of biodiversity and agricultural landscapes are predominant. High Nature Value (HNV) farmland located in less favoured areas play a central role in the conservation of habitats and species. However, biodiversity continues to be lost at an unprecedented rate, with trends projected to become worse. Current processes of abandonment of marginal farmland and intensification are pointed as the major threats for the conservation of biodiversity and cultural landscapes in Europe. Agricultural Policy plays a very important role in achieving environmental objectives and there is a shift towards promoting the supply of environmental goods (green payments). But the incorporation of environmental indicators into policy design requires the valuation of externalities that do not have market value and are difficult to measure, as different temporal and spatial scales operate. The main objectives of the research project are: i) to obtain agri-environmental indicators to assess the ecosystem services provided by HNV agriculture; ii) to design an indicator-based framework to evaluate the environmental impacts and sustainability of agricultural practice; iii) to analyse trade-offs and synergies between food production and environmental services; and iv) to define recommendations for policy design. This project covers 3 HNV mountain agro-ecosystems located in Norway and Spain, representing different ecological and socio-economic contexts in Europe. The work will be structured around 2 broad activities: a) measuring the interactions between HNV agriculture and landscape/ biodiversity attributes to obtain relevant agri-environmental indicators, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative (choice modelling) methods; b) designing a definite framework for quantitative evaluation of ecosystem services and sustainability analysis of HNV farmland in order to support policy making.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Research shows that rural and urban communities rate the value of farmland ecosystems two to three times higher than its estimated monetary value.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

European agriculture provides a range of ecosystem services, including biodiversity conservation, particularly in High Nature Value (HNV) farmlands within less favoured areas. With agriculture and grazing on these lands decreasing due to a recent recession, these farmlands have suffered vegetation encroachment and biodiversity loss.

The EU-funded AGRI-ECO SERVICES project aimed to design a framework for evaluating the environmental impacts and sustainability of agricultural practice in HNV areas. It did so by measuring the value of ecosystem services to the community, in order to support decision making in agricultural policy.

Project members conducted two case studies in areas containing both natural parks and farmlands, in the Mediterranean and Nordic regions of Europe. They found that both communities perceived the agricultural lands to be highly valuable ecosystem services providers. In fact, the communities rated the value of the lands two to three times higher than the estimated economic value.

Both rural and urban populations valued quality local food production, biodiversity preservation, aesthetic and recreational value, and fire risk prevention. Researchers concluded that the socio-cultural and economic ecosystem services these lands provide were underestimated, and that subsequent welfare loss was linked to environmental loss.

This project may help to highlight the importance of valuing ecosystem services in monetary terms, as a path to compensating farmers for their contribution. Such a process could include targeting particular agricultural practices that might be eligible for 'green' subsidies (payments for ecosystem services).