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06.01.2025

Evaluation of agri-environment schemes in the Netherlands

New study published

The European Union subsidizes farmers that adopt practices that benefit biodiversity and ecosystem services. These subsidies, called agri-environment schemes (AES), are also meant to prevent further decline of species in the agricultural landscape, including meadow birds. There are different AES available and they can be combined in numerous ways. This makes it complicated to assess the costs and ecological benefits of these measures for meadow birds.

In a recently published paper, project team member Luis Barba-Escoto and colleagues from the University of Groningen proposed a method to simplify the complexity of AES combinations in the Netherlands. Also, they compared the numbers of Black-tailed Godwits in three categories of agricultural fields: high-intensity fields, fields with AES, and fields with site protection, while further considering the variability found within AES fields. The authors discuss which AES measures are most implemented and which are most cost-effective, among other things.

The study suggests that the most expensive measures are also the ones that host higher proportions and densities of breeding Godwits, while measures with lower Godwit numbers are the most widespread. This calls to consider upgrading fields to AES that provide better habitat quality for meadow birds.

The full article was published in Global Ecology and Conservation (Volume 56, December 2024) and is available for free here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03286


Two separate bar charts. The upper one (A) shows that most Godwits are on fields with site protection and AES, although intensively-used agricultural fields are much more widespread. The lower chart (B) shows that delayed mowing and herb-rich grassland are the AES subsidy types that host the most Godwits.
Results of the Dutch study. A) The land area contribution of different meadow bird conservation strategies and the proportion of the Godwit population hosted by each management strategy for the period 2016–2022. B) The area under management by different AES subsidy types for the period 2016–2022 and the proportion of the Godwit population hosted by each AES subsidy type. Figure: Barba-Escoto et al. 2024
A map showing the distribution of different agricultural fields in South West Friesland.
Study area in South West Friesland and distribution of different agricultural fields. The dotted line shows the areas monitored for Godwits between 2016 and 2022. Figure: Barba-Escoto et al. 2024