Policy impacts on regulating ecosystem services: looking at the implications of 60 years of landscape change on soil erosion prevention in a Mediterranean silvo-pastoral system

摘要: Context Policy decisions form a major driver of land use change, with important implications for socially and environmentally susceptible regions. It is well known that there can be unintended consequences, especially where policies are not tailored to regionally specific contexts. Objectives In this paper we assess the 60 years agricultural on soil erosion prevention (SEP) by vegetation, an essential regulating ecosystem service in Mediterranean Europe. Methods To these produced analysed time series cover/use environmental conditions datasets (from 1951 2012) relation changing regioninthesouthernPortugal.Asetofindicatorsrelated SEP allowed us identify intensification as increased last years. Results Particularly 35 years, consequence headagepayments forcattle, theagricultural policy had significant effect density renewal tree cover, resulting drastic effects provision service. These more after 1986, coinciding implementation several Common Agricultural instruments focused increasing modernization productivity capacity farm systems. Conclusions The results show some mechanisms highlight need context-based policies, constrains potentials each region.