Applicability of economic instruments for protecting ecosystem services from cultural agrarian landscapes in Doñana, SW Spain. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gaitán-Cremaschi, Daniel; Palomo, Ignacio; Baraibar Molina, Sergio; De Groot, Rudolf; Gómez-Baggethun, Erik
• Is Part Of: Land use policy. Volume 61(2017)
• Page Start: 185
• Page End: 195
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Economic incentives -- Ecosystem services -- Erosion control -- Multi-functionality -- Traditional vineyard -- Cultural agrarian landscape; Land use -- Periodicals; Land use -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Sol, Utilisation du -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation du -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.7305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.11.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-8377

Abstract

Highlights: Low generational turn-over, profitability and perverse subsidies are major drivers of the loss of traditional vineyards. Conversion of vineyards increases soil erosion with economic costs of 17 €/ha/year. Eco-labelling and redirecting subsidies are proposed to secure delivery of ecosystem services. Abstract: Abandonment and conversion of cultural agrarian landscapes are major drivers behind the loss of ecosystem services in Europe. One incentive for land-use conversion is the higher (private) economic return from industrial mono-functional crops relative to traditional multi-functional ones. However, conversion of cultural agrarian landscapes can involve high direct and indirect costs to society through the loss of ecosystem services. Using as a case study the traditional vineyards surrounding the Doñana National Park, South-West Spain, this research has three objectives: i) to measure soil erosion impacts from the conversion of traditional vineyards in biophysical and economic terms, (ii) to identify drivers of change behind the loss of traditional vineyards, and iii) to assess the applicability of economic instruments to protect traditional vineyards. Our results suggest that uprooting of traditional vineyards is an important driver behind the siltation of the marsh in the Doñana National Park, which in turns involve socio-environmental costs in terms of loss of ecosystem services and cultural values. Subsidy reform to reward management practices that sustain ecosystem services and eco-labelling of vine-derived products are pointed at as promising economic instruments to slow down or reverse abandonment or conversion of traditional vineyards.