This project aims at the possible means to integrate nature protection objectives into the landuse regime of an organic farm. For financial and organisational reasons a simultanous adaption of a farm to multiple partly antagonistic nature protection aims in a single step is not easily executed. Consequently the procedure was divided into an evaluation of the nature conservation measures and the assessment of their influence on the different nature protection objectives. This evaluation allowed for an optimization of the whole farm with the goal of a maximum natur protection level.

The model was adapted with regard to the cropping pracitces and the ecological evaluation methods. The expected results of the modelling approach lie on 1. the farm level  2. the nature protection level and 3. the agricultural policy level.

1. The whole farm otimization and the full cost calculation deliver in consideration of economic and ecological objectives the optimum distribution of site-specific crop rotations. A comparative analysis with the status quo results in the financial gains and losses that occur when the farmer executes nature protection measures. Based on this recommendations for compensation payments can be given.
2. The compromise between ecological objectives, the pracitcal feasibility on farm level and the amount of available resources for compensation payments was found in an iterative procedure with multiple model runs. The presetting of nature protection objectives was used to ensure ecological minimum standards.
3. Agricultural policy scenarios were used to show the effect of different subsidy programs on the nature protection objectives. With a GIS-software it was possible to map these effects down to single plots on the farm. The modelling process resulted in proposals for future agri-environmental measures in the sope of the AGENDA 2000 and the Brandenburg KULAP (Kulturlandschaftsprogramm = cultural landscape program)

Helpful links:

• The 'Naturschutzhof Brodowin' project homepage (German only)
• The EU-AGENDA 2000 page