Imagine a world where farmers are not just food producers, but also guardians of our precious water resources. This book delves into the intricate dynamics of a groundbreaking Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme initiated by Thames Water, offering a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of tackling agricultural diffuse pollution, specifically from the pervasive metaldehyde. Journey into the heart of the English countryside and uncover the hidden drivers and barriers that influence farmer decision-making when it comes to adopting sustainable practices. Explore the vital role of scheme facilitators in bridging the gap between environmental goals and agricultural realities, and discover the innovative strategies employed to encourage behavior change. Unearth the truth about the perceived success and long-term sustainability of this PES initiative, examining whether it truly transforms attitudes towards responsible land management and safeguards our water quality. This insightful exploration sheds light on the delicate balance between economic incentives, environmental stewardship, and the deeply ingrained social influences that shape the choices of those who cultivate our land. Uncover the answers to critical questions: How effective are PES schemes in motivating farmers to embrace eco-friendly practices? What are the key factors that determine a farmer's willingness to participate in such initiatives? And can these programs deliver lasting improvements in water quality while ensuring the livelihoods of farming communities? This book is an essential read for anyone interested in environmental policy, sustainable agriculture, and the power of collaborative solutions to address pressing environmental challenges. Gain a deeper understanding of farmer motivations, the effectiveness of PES schemes, and the potential for creating a more sustainable future for both agriculture and our planet. Keywords: Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), agricultural diffuse pollution, metaldehyde, farmer decision-making, behavior change, environmental attitudes, social influences, scheme facilitators, water quality, sustainability.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- 1.1 Thames Water's PES scheme
- 1.2 Aims and objectives
- 1.3 Thesis Structure
- Chapter 2: Literature Review
- 2.1 Agricultural pesticide diffuse pollution
- 2.2 Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES)
- 2.3 Farmer decision-making behaviour
- 2.4 Approaches for farmer decision-making behaviour research
- Chapter 3: Methodology
- 3.1 Study Context
- 3.2 Data collection
- 3.3 Data analysis
- 3.4 Validity and reliability judgement
- Chapter 4: Results
- 4.1 Farmers' characteristics
- 4.2 Drivers and barriers for farmers' decisions to participate in Thames Water's PES scheme
- 4.3 Project partner approaches for gaining farmers' participation
- 4.4 Project partner advisors' provision of advice
- 4.5 Perceived success and sustainability of Thames Water's PES scheme
- Chapter 5: Discussion
- 5.1 How well does Thames Water's PES scheme function as PES?
- 5.2 Drivers for farmers' participation in Thames Water's PES scheme
- 5.3 The role of project partner advisors in facilitating Thames Water's PES scheme
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis investigates the influences on farmer decision-making behavior regarding participation in a Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme implemented by Thames Water to address agricultural diffuse pollution from metaldehyde. The study aims to understand the drivers and barriers to farmer participation, the strategies employed by scheme facilitators, and the scheme's success in changing farmer behaviors and attitudes.
- Farmer motivations for PES scheme participation (economic vs. non-economic)
- The role of scheme facilitators in supporting farmer participation and behavior change
- The effectiveness of the PES scheme in improving water quality and changing farmer practices
- The long-term sustainability of the behavioral changes achieved through the PES scheme
- The influence of social factors and environmental attitudes on farmer decision-making
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter introduces Thames Water's PES scheme designed to mitigate agricultural diffuse pollution from metaldehyde. It outlines the study's aims and objectives, which focus on understanding farmer decision-making processes within the context of this specific PES initiative. The chapter also details the structure of the thesis, providing a roadmap for the subsequent chapters.
Chapter 2: Literature Review: This chapter reviews existing literature on agricultural pesticide pollution, specifically focusing on metaldehyde and its impact on water quality. It explores the theoretical framework of Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), including the roles of intermediaries and financial incentives. The review also delves into the complexities of farmer decision-making behavior, considering factors such as ability, willingness, and social influences. Finally, it examines different research approaches used to study farmer decision-making in the context of environmental initiatives.
Chapter 3: Methodology: This chapter details the research methodology employed in the study. It describes the study context, including the selected catchments, participating organizations, and farmers involved in Thames Water's PES scheme. The data collection methods are thoroughly explained, focusing on semi-structured interviews with farmers and scheme facilitators. The chapter also outlines the interview design, participant recruitment, data handling procedures, ethical considerations, and the data analysis techniques used to process the qualitative data. Finally, the chapter addresses the validity and reliability of the research findings.
Chapter 4: Results: This chapter presents the findings of the study, detailing the characteristics of participating farmers. It analyzes the drivers and barriers influencing farmers' decisions to participate in the PES scheme, comparing the perspectives of farmers and project partner advisors. The chapter further examines the strategies used by project partners to engage farmers and the advice they provided. Finally, it presents the perceived success and sustainability of the PES scheme based on the farmers' and project partners' assessments, including changes in farmers' attitudes towards metaldehyde and their land management practices.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), agricultural diffuse pollution, metaldehyde, farmer decision-making, behavior change, environmental attitudes, social influences, scheme facilitators, water quality, sustainability.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Was ist der Zweck dieses Dokuments?
Dieses Dokument ist eine umfassende Sprachvorschau, die Titel, Inhaltsverzeichnis, Ziele und Themenschwerpunkte, Kapitelzusammenfassungen und Schlüsselwörter enthält. Es dient dazu, einen Überblick über den Inhalt einer akademischen Arbeit zu geben.
Was ist der Inhalt des Inhaltsverzeichnisses?
Das Inhaltsverzeichnis listet die Kapitel der Arbeit auf, darunter: Einführung, Literaturrecherche, Methodik, Ergebnisse und Diskussion. Jedes Kapitel ist in Unterabschnitte unterteilt, die spezifische Themen behandeln, z. B. das PES-Programm von Thames Water, die diffuse Verschmutzung durch landwirtschaftliche Pestizide und das Entscheidungsverhalten von Landwirten.
Welche Ziele und Themenschwerpunkte werden in diesem Dokument hervorgehoben?
Die Arbeit untersucht, wie das Entscheidungsverhalten von Landwirten durch ein Programm beeinflusst wird, das von Thames Water implementiert wurde, um die diffuse Verschmutzung durch Metaldehyd zu reduzieren. Zu den wichtigsten Themen gehören die Motivationen der Landwirte, die Rolle der Programmvermittler, die Wirksamkeit des Programms zur Verbesserung der Wasserqualität, die langfristige Nachhaltigkeit der Verhaltensänderungen und der Einfluss sozialer Faktoren.
Was sind die Zusammenfassungen der einzelnen Kapitel?
Das Kapitel 1 stellt das PES-Programm von Thames Water vor und umreißt die Ziele der Studie. Kapitel 2 bietet eine Literaturübersicht über die Verschmutzung durch landwirtschaftliche Pestizide, die Zahlungen für Ökosystemleistungen (PES) und das Entscheidungsverhalten der Landwirte. Kapitel 3 beschreibt die Forschungsmethodik, einschließlich des Studienkontexts, der Datenerhebung und der Datenanalyse. Kapitel 4 präsentiert die Ergebnisse der Studie, die die Merkmale der teilnehmenden Landwirte, die Einflussfaktoren auf ihre Entscheidungen und die Strategien der Projektpartner aufzeigen. Kapitel 5 diskutiert die Ergebnisse im Zusammenhang mit der Funktionsweise des PES-Programms, den Einflussfaktoren auf die Teilnahme der Landwirte und der Rolle der Projektpartner.
Welche Schlüsselwörter werden in diesem Dokument verwendet?
Die Schlüsselwörter umfassen: Zahlungen für Ökosystemleistungen (PES), diffuse Verschmutzung durch die Landwirtschaft, Metaldehyd, Entscheidungsfindung der Landwirte, Verhaltensänderung, Umwelteinstellungen, soziale Einflüsse, Programmvermittler, Wasserqualität und Nachhaltigkeit.
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- Quote paper
- Stacey Hobbs (Author), 2021, Influences on Farmer Decision-Making Behavior Considering a Payment for Ecosystem Services Scheme. Farmers' and Scheme Facilitators' Perceptions, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1165138
