THEMES

DETAILS

THEME I

Topics regarding the effects of the measures studied on agricultural and forestry activities

(effects of climate/environmental matters on agri/forestry activities)

–        drivers of agricultural production (may include factors such as market developments, income, financial support or regulatory framework)

–        farmers’ adaptations to these drivers

–        the impact of the measures studied on farmers’ behavior

The analysis should isolate the impact of the measures studied, which could take the form of:

–        changes in farming/forestry systems and technology

–        changes in organization and management of farms/forests (e.g. changes in scale, specialization, intensity of production)

–        changes in geographical distribution of production or production systems (e.g. concentration or marginalization of production in certain European regions)

–        changes in output from agriculture

–        changes in land use, land abandonment

Where relevant, attention should be paid to specific farming systems, such as organic or high nature value farming (“HNV”), or farming in areas under natural constraints/mountains.

THEME II

Topics regarding the environmental/climate effects of the measures studied

(Effects of the measure on clima and envi)

Topic: biodiversity (fauna and flora)

Sub-questions may examine:

–         species: diversity, abundance

–         habitats: location, extent, characteristics, network effects

–         semi-natural habitats like those managed under HNV-farming

–         landscape variety

–         genetic resources in agricolture

–         genetic resources in forestry

Topic: water (surface- and groundwater)

Sub-questions may examine:

–        quality (parameters such as content of nitrates, pesticides)

–        quantity (water abstraction and losses, transport, resilience to flooding)

Topic: soil quality and erosion

Sub-questions may examine:

–        soil quality (parameters such as nutrient content and mobilisation, fertility, humification/humus balance, structure and compaction, water retention capacity, content of damaging substances, residues of pesticides)

–        soil erosion (by wind and water)

Topic: climate/air

Sub-questions may examine:

–        mitigation: contribution to reduction of GHG-emissions, carbon sinks

–        adaptation: resilience of agricultural production to climate changes

–        air quality