Evaluation of ecosystem services of irrigated agriculture: a policy option for a sustainable water management

Abstract

Irrigated agriculture can generate pressures on water bodies and, consequently, potential environmental costs; likewise, agricultural water use can provide several ecosystem services (ES). Both pressures and benefits must be included in the economic analysis of River Basin District Management Plans (RBDMPs), for the environmental cost accounting of agricultural water use. In the RBDMPs, the main reference for environmental benefits and costs accounting is the Program of Measures (PoM), as set by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). This paper aims to provide a review of the main ES of irrigated agro-ecosystem and to clarify how the implementation of the actions that support them can constitute an opportunity to internalize the environmental cost charged to agricultural sector.