Potential for ecosystem service provision in less favoured agricultural areas compared to other agricultural areas in the European Union

The new Biodiversity Strategy of the EU (European Commission, 2011) aims to halt the loss of biodiversity and also the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020. As it has been proved that focusing only at protected areas and species is not enough, semi-natural and agricultural land are also targeted in the strategy. (Maes et al., 2011) Though the effects of extensive agricultural activity are complex and local nature conservation objectives and trade-offs between different ecosystem services have to be taken into account (Fors et al., 2012), good management practices may turn trade-offs into opportunities and can maintain ecosystem functions (Power, 2010). Our aim was to compare the capacity of less favoured agricultural areas for delivering various ecosystem services to other (more productive) agricultural areas at EU level. Less favoured areas are distinguished based on an EU scheme, ‘less favoured areas’ (LFA, Articles of Council Regulation (EC) 1305/2013) which designates areas where agricultural production or activity is more difficult because of natural handicaps and therefore there is a significant risk of agricultural land abandonment.

HAGYO Andrea;  TERRES Jean;  PARACCHINI Maria-Luisa; 

2015-12-17

European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability

JRC96508

978-92-79-48310-3,   

1018-5593,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC96508,   

10.2788/8694,