title: Integrating economic and biophysical data in assessing cost-effectiveness of buffer strip placement.
abstract: The European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires Member States to set water quality objectives and identify cost-effective mitigation measures to achieve "good status" in all waters. However, costs and effectiveness of measures vary both within and between catchments, depending on factors such as land use and topography. The aim of this study was to develop a cost-effectiveness analysis framework for integrating estimates of phosphorus (P) losses from land-based sources, potential abatement using riparian buffers, and the economic implications of buffers. Estimates of field-by-field P exports and routing were based on crop risk and field slope classes. Buffer P trapping efficiencies were based on literature metadata analysis. Costs of placing buffers were based on foregone farm gross margins. An integrated optimization model of cost minimization was developed and solved for different P reduction targets to the Rescobie Loch catchment in eastern Scotland. A target mean annual P load reduction of 376 kg to the loch to achieve good status was identified. Assuming all the riparian fields initially have the 2-m buffer strip required by the General Binding Rules (part of the WFD in Scotland), the model gave good predictions of P loads (345-481 kg P). The modeling results show that riparian buffers alone cannot achieve the required P load reduction (up to 54% P can be removed). In the medium P input scenario, average costs vary from £38 to £176 kg P at 10% and 54% P reduction, respectively. The framework demonstrates a useful tool for exploring cost-effective targeting of environmental measures.
authors.affiliation: The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, UK. bedru.balana@hutton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Bedru Babulo
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Balana
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lago
authors.forename: Nikki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baggaley
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castellazzi
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sample
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stutter
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Slee
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vinten
mesh_terms: D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004058:Diffusion; D018803:Models, Economic; D018511:Systems Integration; D060753:Water Quality