Benchmarking biodiversity performances of farmers

Abstract

Farmers are the key players when it comes to the enhancement of farmland biodiversity. In this study, a benchmark system that focuses on improving farmers’ nature conservation was developed and tested among Dutch arable farmers in different social settings. The results show that especially tailored information combined with public commitment making resulted in a stronger desire to engage in conservation, an increase in surface area of non-subsidized natural habitat, and an increase in time farmers spent on conservation. The feedback given to the farmers especially affected the non-subsidized conservation. Benchmarking instruments using targeted information might be challenging tools for farmers.