Client: Office of the Salzburg State Government, Department of Agriculture
The Salzburg regional program was part of the Austrian agri-environmental program 07-13 and aimed to maintain the existing agricultural use of grassland in production areas with above-average creditworthiness, where the transformation of grassland into arable land would be profitable. The evaluation assessed the contribution of the Salzburg regional program to the protection of soil, water, climate and biodiversity. Based on this, proposals were deviated for the integration of the measure into the subsequent LE funding period.
The evaluation showed that the Salzburg regional program has positive effects on groundwater quality and climate protection. The Salzburg regional program also had a generally positive effect on the number of Farmland Bird Index species. However, the bird species that benefited most were those that prefer short-grass meadows for foraging.
In order to identify the qualitative and quantitative effects of the Salzburg regional program, relevant data such as INVEKOS data, groundwater data, soil sample data and data from breeding bird monitoring were analyzed. The evaluation results were presented to farmers, representatives of the state of Salzburg, the district farmers' chambers, the BMLFUW and the AMA in two half-day workshops. In addition to the evaluation individual discussions were held with experts (farmers, ecologists) and representatives of the department responsible for the program at the BMLFUW and the AMA.
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