Project details

Towards Multifunctional Agricultural Landscapes in Europe: Assessing and governing synergies between food production, biodiversity and ecosystem services – TALE


Against the background of rising land use conflicts, the project addressed the effects of different land use structures and land use intensities on biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services (ESS). Main aspects include the identification of (a) synergies and trade-offs between agricultural production, further ESS and biodiversity at different scales; (b) how these parameters might change under different scenarios representing various land use strategies and climate change conditions; (c) those land management strategies and policy instruments that could help to reduce trade-offs between ESS and biodiversity conservation.

In five case study areas the policy framework and instruments that impact on agricultural land use in connection with its environmental impact were investigated. The status of biodiversity conservation and ESS provision in these regions was quantified by applying different bio-physical, economic and statistical models. Relevant stakeholder groups were involved to analyse expectations and perceptions on land use policies and on biodiversity and ESS objectives. A platform with information material and various tools and structures for communication was developed for an integration of results and exchange between partners, stakeholders and other scientists.

Under coordination of the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig (Germany) and in cooperation with further partners from Austria (BOKU, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna), Spain (IMDEA-agua, Madrid and Technical University of Madrid), Switzerland (Agroscope, Zurich) and The Netherlands (VU University Amsterdam) IfLS was leading the workpackage on policy analysis.

Project no.: 

135

Categories: 

Research | Sustainable land use |

Client: 

PT-DLR/BMBF in the framework of BiodivERsA-FACCE-JPI joint call on “Promoting synergies and reducing trade-offs between food supply, biodiversity and ecosystem services”

Executing Organization: 

Institut für Ländliche Strukturforschung e.V.

Duration: 

2015 - 2018

Contact person/s at IfLS: 

Heike Nitsch, Jörg Schramek