Learning to improve agri-environment schemes using experts’ judgement and multicriteria analysis

A fundamental purpose of agri-environment evaluation is to learn how to improve the delivery of environmental benefits, which must frequently be achieved with limited or no availability of appropriate data on environmental impacts. We present a methodology that addresses this need via the use of expert knowledge. First, we developed a common framework for characterising environmental objectives. Second, we used agri-environmental experts to assess the performance of agrienvironmental measures that contribute to specified environmental objectives. These assessments used the following criteria: validity of the selected measures to produce desired environmental effects (cause-and-effect); quality of implementation by farmers and institutions; a sufficient extent of participation, and; degree of spatial targeting. We used stakeholder consultations to weight the relative importance of the different environmental objectives. Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) techniques were used to produce an aggregated judgement of environmental effectiveness for single case studies or measures. Results from assessment of the environmental performance of AESs in nine EU case study regions indicated considerable differences in overall environmental performance. A majority of measures were associated with one or more deficiencies. Higher priority environmental objectives were not necessarily those that demonstrated highest environmental performance.