Project details

Implementing PLENUM – a federal-state-level project for the maintenance and development of nature and environment (‘Projekt des Landes zur Erhaltung und Entwicklung von Natur und Umwelt’) – the federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg follows a large-scale strategy for the long-term safeguarding of biodiversity and habitats, as well as for an environment-oriented development of its cultural landscapes. The realisation of objectives related to nature conservation is at the programme’s centre.

At the end of 2006 the Regional Office for the Environment, Measurements and Nature Conservation (LUBW) located in Karlsruhe commissioned the IfLS to carry out the mid-term evaluation of the PLENUM implementation in the project areas of ‘Naturgarten Kaiserstuhl’ and ‘Heckengäu’. The mid-term evaluation enabled an analysis of effects at three levels:

Module 1: Qualitative analysis of implementation through interviews with regional actors
Module 2: Incidence analysis of the socio-economic effects of PLENUM projects
Module 3: Evaluation of effects regarding nature conservation

Module 1: Qualitative analysis of implementation through interviews with regional actors

The sample of interviewees facilitated a differentiated insight into the PLENUM project’s implementation. The PLENUM regional management, further key actors and representatives of project executing organisations were interviewed face-to-face, while all mayors were interviewed by a questionnaire.

The interviewees from both regions agreed that networks, communication and cooperation among actors have considerably improved as a result of the PLENUM project (i.e. integration of the various actors and projects).

Module 2: Incidence analysis of the socio-economic effects of PLENUM projects

At four levels, the regional incidence analysis carried out captured the PLENUM programme’s socio-economic effects, as well as the cash flows, material and immaterial commodities related to it, and the benefit generated:

• Net flow of public funds (allowance-related incidence)
• Innovations in the fields of products, services and infrastructure (commodity incidence)
• Effects on employment and value added
• Knowledge generation and qualitatively new networking among regional actors through cooperation (benefit incidence)

After the phase of initiation, regarding both regions the incidence analysis revealed clearly perceivable effects in the field of nature-conservation-oriented regional development. Furthermore, initial success in economic terms can be detected.

Module 3: Evaluation of effects regarding nature conservation

Effects regarding nature conservation were analysed by the Institute of Botany and Landscape Research (Institut für Botanik und Landschaftskunde) located in Karlsruhe through case studies of differing depth.

Positive effects regarding nature conservation were identified or forecast, concerning the projects evaluated (a) having direct or indirect area-wide effects regarding nature conservation (in the fields of nature conservation, agriculture and marketing), as well as (b) having indirect effects (in the fields of marketing, environmental education, information and tourism).