Model testing of nature conservation cooperatives in Germany based on the Dutch approach (MoNaKo)

Background and Objective

The conservation of endangered animal and plant species in Europe's agricultural landscapes relies on farmers implementing specific nature conservation measures. In Germany, these measures have so far been implemented at individual farm level. This approach is only partially successful. Many species require areas of land on a scale and diversity that cannot usually be provided by a single farm.

In order to increase the effectiveness of nature conservation measures, the Netherlands has been pursuing the approach of nature conservation cooperatives since 2016: There, nature conservation measures can only be applied for and implemented jointly by associations of several farms in a region, the cooperatives. Potential advantages of the Dutch approach are seen in the reduction of the administrative burden for the agricultural administration and in an increased acceptance and flexibility of the implementation of measures for the farms.

The aim of the joint project is the on-site testing and scientific investigation of cooperative implementation strategies for nature conservation measures based on the Dutch approach, taking into account the German administrative structures in four model regions in four federal states (Rhineland-Palatinate, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg).

The experience gained will lead to recommendations for the design and implementation of nature conservation measures within the framework of future agri-environmental funding policy.

The joint project is being coordinated by the German Farmers' Association and implemented in the model regions with the Brandenburg Farmers' Association, the Lower Saxony Cultural Landscape Conservation Foundation and the Saxony-Anhalt and Rhineland-Palatinate Cultural Landscape Foundations. The Thünen Institute of Rural studies is responsible for the accompanying socio-economic research in the project.

Approach

We identify and evaluate socio-economic, structural and organisational factors that influence the success of cooperative nature conservation measures in the model regions. To this, we carry out the following steps in the project:

• Identification of strengths and opportunities of each model region at the beginning and end of the project period.
• Surveys of farmers involved in the cooperatives at the beginning and end of the project on their expectations, the experience gained and their assessment of the feasibility and economic benefits.
• Recording the understanding of the roles of the other actors involved in the cooperatives, such as consultants, nature conservation organisations and associations, foundations, administration.
• Accompanying the exchange of experience within and between the model regions.
• Recording and systematisation of the costs incurred by the public administration and the private actors in the cooperatives.
• Survey of the administrative, control and sanction costs for the agricultural administration, the cooperatives and the participating farmers.
• Identification of necessary adjustments to the institutional and legal framework for a broad transfer of the cooperative approach to Germany.

Our Research Questions

• Can the Dutch approach of nature conservation cooperatives be successfully transferred to Germany?
• How would the institutional framework in Germany have to be adapted in order to apply this approach more widely in Germany?
• Does the cooperative approach lead to a reduction in the administrative burden?
• Can nature conservation cooperatives increase the acceptance of nature conservation measures in agriculture?
• What role do personal (e.g. values, expectations) and social aspects (e.g. existing networks) play in the successful implementation of the cooperative approach?