Frustrated or fulfilled? Motivation of Czech farmers to implement climate change adaptation measures on the landscape level

Abstract

Farmers around the world struggle with impacts of climate change such as drought. However, their motivations to implement green and blue infrastructure (GBI) as adaptation measures have gained little attention.In-depth interviews with 21 farmers from areas both inside and outside areas of natural constraints in the Czech Republic were carried out and analysed according to the grounded theory approach of Strauss and Corbin. The aim of this qualitative, exploratory study was to understand the unique motivation dynamics, that is, how the motivation of the farmers to create GBI and other measures on agricultural land starts, develops, changes over time, and is maintained or diminishes.We have categorised farmers on the basis of the degree of implemented GBI, their motivation to implement GBI, and other characteristics into three types: fulfilled farmers, farmers struggling with barriers, and frustrated farmers. The components that affect the motivation are presented in a qualitative model. The data suggests that a combination of the vision of the farm, financial security of a business, the farmer's personality traits, and the fulfilment of his or her basic psychological needs is a prerequisite for the motivation to implement GBI, as is sufficient knowledge about the benefits of GBI. Future policies may benefit from acknowledging differences in motivation dynamics among farmers, the level of their frustration, and their needs.