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Indicators to identify the agricultural pressures on environmental functions and their use in the development of agri-environmental measures

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Abstract

The effects of agricultural activities on the environment can be presented by suitable pressure indicators. These pressure indicators can also be used as control variables to achieve a desired environmental state. Therefore, pressure indicators can play a decisive role in the elaboration of agri-environmental measures. This paper deals with the use of pressure indicators to assess the sustainability of agricultural land use on the one hand, and their contribution to the development of agri-environmental measures on the other hand. After the illustration of the general political background on the CAP evolution and the information needed for monitoring, control and ex-post assessment, the methodological approach of the AEMBAC project to provide this information is presented. Experiences in applying pressure indicators in assessing the agri-environmental measures are discussed and their applicability for the identification of environmental impacts, management and monitoring is evaluated.

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Abbreviations

AEM:

Agri-environmental measures

CAP:

Common Agricultural Policies

CMEF:

Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

DPSIR:

Driving force, pressure, state, impact, response

RDP:

Rural Development Programme

UAA:

Used agricultural area

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Acknowledgments

We thank Eric Ansink—Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group, Wageningen University, Giovanni Belletti and Benedetto Rocchi—Florence University, Filippo Arfini—Parma University, Tania Gualdo—Florence (linguistic review).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig, Working Group “Natural Balance and Regional Characteristics”, Neustädter Markt 19, 01097, Dresden, Germany

    Michael Lütz

  2. Regional Institute Economic Planning of Tuscany, Via G. La Farina 27, 50132, Florence, Italy

    Francesco Felici

Authors
  1. Michael Lütz
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  2. Francesco Felici
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Correspondence to Michael Lütz.

Appendix

Appendix

Pressure indicators for assessing the potential risks for the ecosystems caused by agriculture used in the AEMBAC project (Table 8)

Table 8  
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Lütz, M., Felici, F. Indicators to identify the agricultural pressures on environmental functions and their use in the development of agri-environmental measures. Reg Environ Change 9, 181–196 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-008-0061-9

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