Modelling Alternative Economic Incentive Schemes for Semi-Natural Grassland Conservation in Estonia

Author:

Nishizawa Takamasa,Schuler Johannes,Bethwell Claudia,Glemnitz Michael,Semm Maaria,Suškevičs Monika,Hämäläinen Laura,Sepp Kalev,Värnik Rando,Uthes Sandra,Aurbacher Joachim,Zander Peter

Abstract

AbstractSemi-natural grasslands (SNGLs) in Estonia are threatened by abandonment. This threat is leading to concerns about the degradation of biodiversity within grassland communities. Despite the high relevance of economic incentives in this context, how such incentives influence land managers’ decision-making regarding the agricultural use of SNGLs has not been investigated. To obtain its socio-ecological implications for policy-making, we developed regionally specific agricultural scenarios (compensation payments, livestock capacity, hey export, and bioenergy production) and an interdisciplinary modelling approach that made it possible to simulate agricultural land use changes through land managers' responses to varied economic conditions. Through this approach, we found that some economic factors hampered the use of SNGLs: the moderate profitability of beef production, labour shortages, and the relatively high profitability of mulching. We observed a positive relationship between SNGLs and habitat suitability for breeding and feeding birds. However, due to the high maintenance costs of SNGLs, the modelling results indicated that increasing the use of SNGLs through public budgets caused crowding-out effects, i.e., the deteriorating market integration of regional agriculture. This study emphasises the need for policy measures aimed at cost-effective, labour-efficient management practices for SNGLs.

Funder

Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung

Eesti Teadusagentuur

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Reference71 articles.

1. Agroscope, Swiss National Science Foundation, & University of Zürich. (n.d.) FEEDBASE (The Swiss Feed Database). https://www.feedbase.ch/

2. ARC Agricultural Research Centre [Põllumajandusuuringute Keskus] (2021) Kattetulu arvestused taime- ja loomakasvatuses 2021 [Accounting for the margin in crop and livestock production 2021]. https://pmk.agri.ee/sites/default/files/inline-files/2021_kattetulu_220303.pdf

3. Bakker JP, Berendse F (1999) Constraints in the restoration of ecological diversity in grassland and heathland communities. In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution, vol 14. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-5347(98)01544-4

4. Bengtsson J, Bullock JM, Egoh B, Everson C, Everson T, O’Connor T, O’Farrell PJ, Smith HG, Lindborg R (2019) Grasslands—more important for ecosystem services than you might think. Ecosphere 10(2) https://doi.org/10.1002/ECS2.2582

5. Benstead P, Jose P, Joyce C, Wade P (1999) European wet grassland: guidelines for management and restoration. Sandy, UK, RSPB

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3