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This report represents a summary evaluation of the first year of ecological monitoring for the GLAS agri-environment scheme and represents the baseline year condition of the sample sites against which future observations will be compared. 26 actions from the scheme have been analysed.

This evaluation seeks to determine the impact of Agri-environment schemes on conserving the botanical interest of lowland wet grasslands. A total of 99 grassland sites under Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) were surveyed in 2012, including sites previously under Environmental Sensitive Areas (ESAs) and those newly under an agreement.

This study looks to produce and use a methodology to determine the extent to which Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) has (a) delivered an improvement in lowland heathland conditions; (b) been appropriately targeted.

An independent assessment of the support offered to farmers and the agricultural sector as part of the Farming Connect Service.

This summary report describes the progress made by the Member States in implementing the RDP evaluation plans as reported in Chapter 2 of the 2020 AIRs. The summary is based on the screening of Chapter 2 of 113 Annual Implementation Reports (AIRs).

This evaluation determines how effective the options are for increasing the plant diversity in grasslands with legumes and herbs. Plant and soil data was collected from 76 parcels on 54 holdings, coupled with face-to-face interviews.

The study focuses on how habitats have changed under Higher Level Stewardship Scheme (HLS) and whether changes are influenced by agreement or agreement holder characteristics. A total of 173 HLS agreements were resurveyed in 2015 and 2016 which were widely distributed across England and followed a baseline survey in 2009-2011. Additionally, 137 agreement holders were interviewed face-to-face using a semi-structured questionnaire.

The purpose of this study is to establish an integrated methodology for evaluating the impact of incentive schemes on climate change adaptation for biodiversity at a national, landscape and farm scale. This will consider; how the schemes are operated, how action is targeted, where options are located and whether option prescriptions suit. At the finer farm scale, the contribution of AE schemes to ecosystem based adaptation will also be evaluated.

The study evaluates the spatial distribution of different types of management under AE agreements nationally against a range of spatial datasets relevant to climate resilience and vulnerability, to understand whether existing agri-environment management options are ‘broadly in the right place’ for different adaptation priorities. The study then extends this approach to develop and test a methodology for identifying and evaluating adaptation at the farm level.

The study will result in a methodology that will be incorporated into future AE scheme monitoring and a national baseline dataset to compare future change.

This Working Document has been initiated on the basis of the existing glossary annexed to the European Commission – Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (2017) Technical Handbook on the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework of the Common Agricultural Policy 2014 – 2020, hereafter referred as ‘DG AGRI (2017) Technical Handbook for the CMEF 2014-2020’. Moreover, it contains key terms related to evaluation developed by, or used during the European Evaluation Helpdesk’s Thematic Working Groups (TWGs).