Project info
Funding programme: Horizon 2020
Duration: 1 March 2015 – 31 March 2018
Coordinator: Institute for European Environmental Policy (Belgium)
More info: project brochure
PEGASUS
Public Ecosystem Goods And Services from land management - Unlocking the Synergies
PEGASUS (Public Ecosystem Goods And Services from land management – Unlocking the Synergies) aims to develop innovative approaches and new ways of thinking about the way farmland and forests are managed in order to stimulate a long-lasting improvement in the provision of public goods and ecosystem services from agricultural and forest land in the European Union.
To this end, PEGASUS conducts theoretical research, develops tools such as datasets and maps supporting a better understanding of ecosystem services and explores 33 cases studies on farming and forestry across the EU.
The partnership consists of 14 partners in Europe. Euromontana is the co-leader of the Work Package on Communication and Dissemination.
Impact
By improving recognition of the social and economic value of public goods and ecosystem services, PEGASUS promoted improved and innovative approaches to their provision by businesses and communities and highlighted specific policy improvements to secure their delivery also in the longer term.
The project provided specific advances in CAP, forestry and other relevant policies, underpinned by strong scientific evidence.
PEGASUS also resulted in an EU-level analysis of socio-political and institutional drivers, different land management systems and multiple delivery of public goods and ecosystem services was complemented by case studies as well as a mapping exercise to determine what public goods and ecosystem services provision are needed and feasible within particular territories and sectors. New datasets, transferable methods and tools that are fit-for-purpose and sensitive to the plurality of decision-making contexts were also produced.
Key results
A summary of PEGASUS key findings
for all stakeholders interested in finding out more about the results, messages and key recommendations of PEGASUS on how to enhance the provision of environmental and social benefits by EU agriculture and forestry in the future
The Toolkit “Working Together to Build a Successful Initiative”
to help stakeholders planning local initiatives in supporting more sustainable farming and forestry. It provides you with a set of common principles and supporting methods, as well as 34 examples across Europe
4 Policy Briefs
to guide policymakers in supporting further delivery of ecosystem services through faring and forestry:
Mechanisms fostering environmental and social benefits from agriculture and forestry in the 34 PEGASUS case studies
Mapping the role of agriculture and forest management in the delivery of environmental and social benefits
The importance of social processes: unlocking synergies
A step change in policy to deliver more environmental and social benefits
A series of factsheets on concrete local case studies
to help interested parties in understanding the issues faced in ensuring the effective provision of environmental and social benefits in different contexts. The following factsheets are specific to mountain areas:
Organic farming label in the mountain Murau region (Austria)
Social-Ecological Systems in the Biosphere Reserve Lungau (Austria)
Mountain forestry and environmental and social benefits provision in Austrian mountain areas (Austria)
Biodiversity rich meadows payment (Czech Republic)
Agriculture and forestry in Pays de Langres (France)
Volvic (France)
Agriculture and forestry in Parc National des Cévennes (France)
Processed tomato supply chain in the Tomato District of northern Italy (Italy)
Niche products and tourism in Tuscany (Italy)
Agri-forestry in sub-alpine Slovenia (Slovenia)
Agricultural based development strategies for areas hits by economic crisis (Slovenia)
North Pennines multi-stakeholder partnership for sustainable uplands (United-Kingdom)
Partners
Institute for European Environmental Policy (coordinator)
University of Gloucestershire
DLO Foundation
Institute for Rural Development Research
Public Research Agency on Agriculture and Agricultural Economics
Institute of Agricultural Economics and Information
Joint Research Centre
National Institute for Agricultural Research
Federal Institute for Less-Favoured and Mountainous Areas (BABF)
Evora University
Ljubljana University
Centre for Ecological Engineering
BirdLife Europe
Euromontana