An indicator framework to help maximise potential benefits for ecosystem services and biodiversity from ecological focus areas

摘要: Abstract Ecological focus areas are one of three greening measures that were introduced into the European Common Agricultural Policy by reform in 2014, with aim enhancing ecological function agricultural landscapes. However, there concerns they will provide little or no additional benefit (enhanced biodiversity and ecosystem services) as those declared may already exist and/or any new be implemented on basis farm management burdens rather than criteria, such which easiest least costly to implement. To implement achieve greater benefits requires taking account numerous spatial parameters, scientific understanding services, needs behaviour individual communities species. Such an approach is not readily practical feasible for many land managers. This paper describes development indicator framework aims distil this complex information aid decision making regard implementation enhance increase services biodiversity. It involved collating evidence from over 350 papers, reports guides then structuring form framework. 230 impacts identified 20 uses landscape features, these characterised using 138 parameters attributes, containing 708 descriptive classes. The help managers identify potential different options specific context their farm, thus select greatest burden circumstances. part first evolution measures, so scope improve them make more focused. Tools, presented herein, have support process educating raising awareness impacts, facilitating transfer knowledge, resulting a aware industry.