Turning the Tide: An Analysis of Factors Influencing the Adoption of Biodiversity-Enhancing Measures on Agricultural Land at the German Baltic Coast
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Contributors
Abstract
The agricultural sector plays a major role in turning the tide of biodiversity loss. In the European Union, land use decisions and biodiversity are strongly influenced by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Despite massive investment in subsidies to incentivize environmentally friendly farming practices, the CAP has so far failed to preserve the biodiversity of Europe’s farmland. A simplistic understanding of farmers’ motivations, dominated by rational, economic cost–benefit considerations, is one of the reasons for this failure. Our study contributes to this discussion through the identification of factors influencing the decision making of farmers. Through a case study approach in a biodiversity-rich region on the German Baltic coast—the so-called hotspot 29—we classify a number of personal, social/group, and external factors relevant to the implementation of biodiversity-enhancing measures on agricultural land. Applying a model of pro-environmental behavior, we illustrate the interlinkages between factors and outline potential solutions to support biodiversity-enhancing behavior.
Details
Original language | English |
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Article number | 317 |
Journal | Sustainability (Switzerland) |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2024 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Keywords
Sustainable Development Goals
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- agriculture, behavior change, conservation, policy interventions, pro-environmental behavior