Costs and benefits of erosion control measures in the UK

• Published in: Soil use and management 2015-10, Vol.31 (S1), p.16-33
• Main Authors: Posthumus, H, Deeks, L. K, Rickson, R. J, Quinton, J. N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Assessments; conservation buffers; control methods; Cost analysis; cost effectiveness; Cost engineering; costs and returns; economic valuation; Economics; ecosystem services; Ecosystems; environmental impact; Erosion control; farmers; Farming; farms; Management; mulching; planting; plowing; sediment traps; soil; soil conservation; Soil erosion; soil policy
• ISSN: 0266-0032; 1475-2743
• DOI: 10.1111/sum.12057

Soil erosion is a key threat to ecosystem services. This study assesses the cost‐effectiveness of erosion control measures based on an ecosystem services approach. The economic appraisal consists of an assessment (i.e. quantification and valuation) of the on‐site and off‐site impacts of soil erosion, and its mitigation, on ecosystem services. Many erosion control measures result in negative financial and economic returns. This explains why farmers are generally reluctant to implement erosion control measures without compensation. Based on the assessment described in this study, tramline management, mulching, buffer strips, high‐density planting and sediment traps are the most cost‐effective erosion control measures for agriculture in the UK. Contour ploughing also appears to be cost‐effective, but this measure is not appropriate in all circumstances and therefore cannot be widely promoted. However, actual cost‐effectiveness of erosion control measures will differ for local circumstances, and it is therefore advised that individual assessments are made at farm level or field level before recommendations are made to farmers.