POLICY INTERVENTION EFFECTS ON LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT IN BULGARIA

Abstract

This paper aims to make an evaluation of CAP contribution to landscape management in Bulgarian economy of rural areas. To sum up, landscape is a non-commodity output produced as direct or indirect outcome of the activities operating in a particular area and it is valued by society for its functions (use and non use values, ecological, recreational, cultural etc). Due to this complex nature, it produces second-order effects that are captured by the stakeholders in rural areas (farmers or others), and that generate potential markets for new activities. Therefore, through the generation of these effects, landscape contributes to boosting the economy of rural areas and is an important driver for the whole regional economy. The research reported in this paper was funded by the European Commission within the project “ Supporting the role of the Common agricultural policy in Landscape valorisation: Improving the knowledge base of the contribution of landscape Management to the rural economy” (CLAIM), 7th Framework Programme, contract n. 222738 (www.claimproject.eu). The Rural Development Programmes of the current period (2007-2013) support measures that can have an added value for this new perspective of the policy. Some of them such as the agrienvironmental payments and the measures designed for less favoured areas can have direct and indirect effects in the provision of landscape. Additionally they have effects in delivering landscape as environmental public good, playing also an important role in terms of financial allocation in the current Rural Development Programme. The analysis of existing specific measures targeted at local level connected to the landscape allow to distinguish supporting potential landscape-related activities and it’s role at the economy of rural areas.