Collaboration and Incentives Commission – Exploring the effectiveness of collaborative mechanisms, incentives and alternative approaches for delivering environmental outcomes at large spatial scales through ELM
19 February 2020 - 29 January 2021
PI/s in Exeter: Professor Matt Lobley
CI/s in Exeter: Dr Rebecca Wheeler
Research partners: CCRI, University of Gloucestershire
Funding awarded: (total funding of £68000)
Sponsor(s): Defra
Project webpage(s)
About the research
This project aimed to identify ‘what works’ in farmer collaboration for environmental delivery at larger spatial scales in order to inform Defra’s design of future environmental land management (E.L.M) schemes. The first phase of the research took the form of a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) of collaborative mechanisms, incentives and alternative approaches used to achieve environmental outcomes at large spatial scales. The second phase of the project consisted of primary research covering 15 case studies of collaborative/coordinated initiatives designed to achieve environmental benefits at large spatial scales, including large-scale coordinated partnership projects; community-led initiatives; auction-based approaches; and a variety of farmer groups. In-depth interviews were conducted with 69 land managers, facilitators, coordinators and a range of other stakeholders during the autumn of 2020. The findings identified a number of determinants of, and barriers to, success, as well as a range of potential environmental, social and economic outcomes associated with different approaches to collaborative and coordinated environmental land management.
You can read the project reports by clicking on the link below, or download copies from the publications section of our website.