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Ex post environmental evaluation of agri-environment schemes using experts' judgements and multicriteria analysis

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  • J. A. Finn
  • F. Bartolini
  • D. Bourke
  • I. Kurz
  • D. Viaggi

Abstract

Assessing the environmental impact of agri-environment schemes (AESs) is complicated by the lack of both specific measurable objectives and dedicated environmental monitoring of the impacts. A methodology to estimate the environmental performance of AESs was applied in nine EU case study areas, and reduced the complexity of scheme structure into elements that were assessed by experts. Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) techniques helped produce aggregated judgements about single objectives or measures. Expert panels assessed the link between environmental measures and objectives by scoring specific criteria that reflect important factors for delivering environmental effectiveness: valid research models for measures (cause-and-effect); quality of implementation by farmers and institutions; extent of participation and degree of spatial targeting. Multi-criteria analysis enabled comparison of the degree to which environmental effectiveness (estimated from the criteria scores) within a scheme was achieved across environmental objectives of different importance. There were considerable differences in overall environmental performance across different case study areas, and the experts' scores identified scope for improvement in one or more criteria in most measures. Higher priority environmental objectives (as assessed by stakeholders) did not necessarily demonstrate highest environmental performance. We discuss implications for learning how to improve the design and evaluation of AESs.

Suggested Citation

  • J. A. Finn & F. Bartolini & D. Bourke & I. Kurz & D. Viaggi, 2009. "Ex post environmental evaluation of agri-environment schemes using experts' judgements and multicriteria analysis," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(5), pages 717-737.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jenpmg:v:52:y:2009:i:5:p:717-737
    DOI: 10.1080/09640560902958438
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    Cited by:

    1. Fabio Blanco-Mesa & Anna M. Gil-Lafuente & José M. Merigó, 2018. "Subjective stakeholder dynamics relationships treatment: a methodological approach using fuzzy decision-making," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 441-472, December.
    2. Schaller, Lena & Targetti, Stefano & Villanueva, Anastasio J. & Zasada, Ingo & Kantelhardt, Jochen & Arriaza, Manuel & Bal, Tufan & Fedrigotti, Valérie Bossi & Giray, F. Handan & Häfner, Kati & Majews, 2018. "Agricultural landscapes, ecosystem services and regional competitiveness—Assessing drivers and mechanisms in nine European case study areas," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 735-745.
    3. Murphy, Geraldine & O’Donoghue, Cathal & Hynes, Stephen & Murphy, Eithne, 2014. "Modelling the Participation Decision in Agri-Environmental Schemes," 2014 International Congress, August 26-29, 2014, Ljubljana, Slovenia 183069, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Agata Spaziante & Carlo Rega & Mirko Carbone, 2013. "Spatial Analysis of Agri-environmental Measures for the SEA of Rural Development Programmes," SCIENZE REGIONALI, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2013(2), pages 93-115.
    5. Bartolini, Fabio & Vergamini, Daniele & Longhitano, Davide & Povellato, Andrea, 2021. "Do differential payments for agri-environment schemes affect the environmental benefits? A case study in the North-Eastern Italy," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    6. Signorotti, Claudio & Marconi, Valentina & Raggi, Meri & Viaggi, Davide, 2013. "How Do Agri-Environmental Schemes (AES’s) Contribute to High Nature Value (HNV) Farmland: A Case Study in Emilia Romagna," 2013 Second Congress, June 6-7, 2013, Parma, Italy 149762, Italian Association of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AIEAA).
    7. O'Rourke Eileen & Kramm Nadine, 2012. "High nature value (HNV) farming and the management of upland diversity. A review," European Countryside, Sciendo, vol. 4(2), pages 116-133, January.
    8. Michalek, Jerzy, 2022. "Environmental and farm impacts of the EU RDP agri-environmental measures: Evidence from Slovak regions," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    9. Topping, Christopher J. & Dalby, Lars & Valdez, Jose W., 2019. "Landscape-scale simulations as a tool in multi-criteria decision making to support agri-environment schemes," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    10. Silvia Coderoni & Roberto Esposti & Alessandro Varacca, 2024. "How Differently Do Farms Respond to Agri-environmental Policies? A Probabilistic Machine-Learning Approach," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 100(2), pages 370-397.
    11. Fabio Bartolini & Daniele Vergamini, 2019. "Understanding the Spatial Agglomeration of Participation in Agri-Environmental Schemes: The Case of the Tuscany Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, May.
    12. Targetti, Stefano & Viaggi, Davide & Cuming, David, 2011. "A comparative cost-effectiveness analysis of biodiversity indicators in grassland farming systems," 2011 International Congress, August 30-September 2, 2011, Zurich, Switzerland 116077, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    13. Pappalardo, Gioacchino & D'Amico, Mario & La Via, Giovanni & Pulvirenti, Angelo, 2012. "European Union agro-environmental policy impact for agricultural landscape conservation: the case of Lemon Cultivation in North-Eastern Sicily," Politica Agricola Internazionale - International Agricultural Policy, Edizioni L'Informatore Agrario, vol. 2012(1), pages 1-14, August.
    14. Targetti, Stefano & Viaggi, Davide & Cuming, David & Sarthou, J.P. & Choisis, J.P., "undated". "Assessing the costs of measuring biodiversity: methodological and empirical issues," 120th Seminar, September 2-4, 2010, Chania, Crete 109414, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    15. Baur, Ivo & Schläpfer, Felix, 2018. "Expert Estimates of the Share of Agricultural Support that Compensates European Farmers for Providing Public Goods and Services," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 264-275.
    16. Matteo Olivieri & Maria Andreoli & Daniele Vergamini & Fabio Bartolini, 2021. "Innovative Contract Solutions for the Provision of Agri-Environmental Climatic Public Goods: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-22, June.
    17. Bazyli Czyżewski & Anna Matuszczak & Łukasz Kryszak & Andrzej Czyżewski, 2019. "Efficiency of the EU Environmental Policy in Struggling with Fine Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ): How Agriculture Makes a Difference?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-17, September.
    18. Viaggi, Davide & Finn, John Anthony & Kurz, Isabelle & Bartolini, Fabio, 2011. "Multicriteria analysis for environmental assessment of agri-environment schemes: How to use partial information from Mid-Term Evaluations?," Agricultural Economics Review, Greek Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 12(1).
    19. Elmiger, By Noëmi & Finger, Robert & Ghazoul, Jaboury & Schaub, Sergei, 2023. "Biodiversity indicators for result-based agri-environmental schemes – Current state and future prospects," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    20. Christina Moulogianni & Thomas Bournaris, 2021. "Assessing the Impacts of Rural Development Plan Measures on the Sustainability of Agricultural Holdings Using a PMP Model," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-13, April.
    21. Rovai, Massimo & Bartolini, Fabio & Brunori, Gianluca & Fastelli, Laura, 2014. "Exploring the provision of ecosystem services through rural landscape management: a development of conceptual framework," 2014 Third Congress, June 25-27, 2014, Alghero, Italy 174943, Italian Association of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AIEAA).
    22. Fabio Bartolini & Gianluca Brunori, 2014. "Understanding linkages between common agricultural policy and High Nature Value (HNV) farmland provision: an empirical analysis in Tuscany Region," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 2(1), pages 1-21, December.
    23. Jessica Weber & Johann Köppel, 2022. "Can MCDA Serve Ex-Post to Indicate ‘Winners and Losers’ in Sustainability Dilemmas? A Case Study of Marine Spatial Planning in Germany," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-30, October.
    24. Bartkowski, Bartosz & Droste, Nils & Ließ, Mareike & Sidemo-Holm, William & Weller, Ulrich & Brady, Mark V., 2021. "Payments by modelled results: A novel design for agri-environmental schemes," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).

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