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How diverse are farmers’ preferences for large-scale grassland ecological restoration? Evidence from a discrete choice experiment

Author

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  • Marie Asma Ben-Othmen

    (INTERACT Research Unit–Innovation, Land Management, Agriculture, Agro-Industries, Knowledge, and Technology, UniLaSalle (Rouen Campus))

  • Mariia Ostapchuk

    (INTERACT Research Unit–Innovation, Land Management, Agriculture, Agro-Industries, Knowledge, and Technology, UniLaSalle (Rouen Campus))

Abstract

Despite their multiple ecological benefits, semi-natural grasslands are threatened by intensification and conversion to cropland farming practices. Previous agri-environmental schemes have yet to prove successful in giving adequate incentives to farmers to engage in their restoration on a large scale. Through a discrete choice experiment conducted with 110 farmers in northwestern France, we show that participation in grassland restoration can be enhanced by introducing a conditional monetary premium contingent upon compliance with the enrolled farmland’s scope and spatial distribution conditions. We have also found that although farmers clearly prefer to avoid signing a grassland restoration contract, technical support is a significant contract attribute. Besides, our findings underline that small dairy farmers who seem knowledgeable about ecosystem services provided by grasslands prefer signing a collective contract that engages them with their neighbors toward achieving significant ecological outcomes of grassland restoration. We conclude with policy implications within the post-2023 CAP as well as a research perspective to improve the implementation of large-scale grassland ecological restoration measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Marie Asma Ben-Othmen & Mariia Ostapchuk, 2023. "How diverse are farmers’ preferences for large-scale grassland ecological restoration? Evidence from a discrete choice experiment," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 104(3), pages 341-375, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:roafes:v:104:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s41130-023-00200-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s41130-023-00200-x
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Grassland restoration; Discrete choice experiment; Land management; Agri-environmental scheme; Ecosystem services;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment
    • Q24 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Land
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics

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