Green Payment and Perceived Rural Landscape Quality: A Cost-Benefit Analysis in Central Italy

Abstract

The conservation of perceived scenery of traditional extensive and diversified landscapes is a valuable aim for reaching sustainable rural development. Considering the financial budget assigned and the application rules of European Union agricultural policy (Common Agricultural Policy-CAP), the relationship between perceived landscape benefits and CAP first pillar payments is an interesting aspect to analyze. In this study, a cost-benefit analysis has been carried out in a rural area of Central Italy that represents typical Italian conditions of hilly territories. Greening payment, a mechanism aimed to boost public goods, including landscapes and their ecological functionality, was selected as a proxy for policy cost of preserving traditional extensive landscapes. The benefits of greening have been evaluated through the analysis of the people's willingness to pay for the maintenance of extensive and diversified landscapes. The analysis conducted does not explicitly consider the full range of environmental benefits determined by greening, even if some interviewees may have perceived them in addition to the visual perception of the rural landscape. The present study can contribute to the debate on the agricultural policy post-2020, especially for a future definition of long-lasting and cost-effective sustainable interventions in hilly and extensive rural landscapes.

Farmers’ Satisfaction and its Influencing Factors in the Policy of Economic Compensation for Cultivated Land Protection: A Case Study in Chengdu, China

“…Hence, strengthening farmers' knowledge of the CLPF is conducive to promoting their interpretation of the policy, which is instrumental in enhancing farmers' enthusiasm for participating in farmland protection [29]. In this view, suggestions for strengthening farmers' knowledge of the CLPF have been proposed in three aspects: (1) Focus part of the financial effort toward publicity courses of the CLPF to increase farmers' comprehensive understanding of this policy [46]. This educational effort should aim to deepen farmers' understanding of the purpose, meaning, and program of the CLPF, as well as their obligations and responsibilities.…”

“…Effective engagement between farmers and the government can facilitate the development of interest, responsibility, and a social norm, thereby enhancing their deep understanding of policies [46,47]. (3) Strengthen local tradition and culture aiming to make policies considerably acceptable to farmers [46]. The socio-cultural identity of farmers has an important Previous studies have confirmed that the more cultivated land farmers own, the higher their satisfaction with the CLPF.…”

A model of crop diversification under labor shocks

“…However, one strategy with little presence in models is crop diversification, despite many studies showing its benefits. Crop diversification can enhance both the visual and environmental properties of landscapes while reducing economic risks to farmers, and has been a part of attempts to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture [6][7][8][9]. Agricultural biodiversity has been found to increase the resilience of agricultural landscapes in a review of 172 case studies and project reports from around the globe [10].…”

A New Approach to Farm Biodiversity Assessment

“…For example, a reformed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was introduced in 2014 under the auspices of the European Union and contained a so-called greening program that obligates farmers to diversify in crop production, maintain permanent grassland and allocate 5% of agricultural land to ecological focus areas (EFA) [9]. Profitable food production, sustainable resource management, balanced territorial development and the support of public goods, such as landscape or ecological functionality, are long-term goals of the program [10][11][12]. Under the various conservation programs, the farm must become an attractive place for nature, in turn maintaining or even increasing the level of biodiversity.…”