Assessment of capacity for ecosystem services in agricultural areas, focusing on areas with natural constraints (ANC)

Areas with Natural Constraints (ANC, previously referred as 'less favoured areas', LFA) designates areas where agricultural production or activity is more difficult because of natural handicaps and therefore there is a significant risk of agricultural land abandonment. The scheme compensates for the natural disadvantage. Ecosystem services are the benefits people obtain from ecosystems (MA, 2005). They are derived from ecosystem functions and represent the realized flow of services for which there is demand ( (Maes, 2013)MAES, 2013). Ecosystem functions/capacities are defined as the capacity to deliver ecosystem services (MAES, 2013). The ANC scheme aims at maintaining the countryside and maintaining and promoting sustainable farming systems. Therefore it can help to maintain or improve certain ecosystem services and ecosystem services can increase agricultural productivity, which can be important particularly in marginal areas. Furthermore, it contributes to the fourth priority of the rural development policy: restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems dependent on agriculture and forestry. Beyond these aims, the demand for a better targeting of areas with natural constraints calls for the assessment of ecosystem services of these areas.