The aim of the ecosystem service assessment of ‘Areas with natural constraints’ (ANC, Articles of Council Regulation (EU) 1305/2013) at European level is to gain insight into the current status of ecosystem services (ES) supply, to develop a classification system based on ES supply, and to evaluate the performance of the scheme.
The report shows the actual status of nine ecosystem capacities in less favoured agricultural areas compared to agricultural areas out of the scheme. The comparison covers three aspects of ecosystem capacities: (1) the quantitative level, (2) the relationships (trade-offs and synergies) among capacities and (3) the level of multi-functionality. Furthermore some examples are presented for comparison and classification of administrative units regarding to the ecosystem capacities of their less favoured areas.
The methodology can be applied for the areas with natural constraints when their delineation will be ready. It can contribute to the evaluation of the performance of the ANC scheme as well as to its better targeting.JRC.H.4-Monitoring Agricultural Resource
