The role of farmers in implementing ecosystem-based approach for flood risk management - a case study in Bulgaria

Farmlands play a key role in flood risk management mainly due to the formation of surface water runoff on their territory. The growing interest in natural solutions for flood risk reduction somehow coincides with the reforms in the Common Agricultural Policy after 2013. Consequently, there is a prerequisite for strengthening the link between flood risk management and the introduction of environmentally friendly farming practices. Farmers have a central role in flood risk management mainly as key actors in implementing measures targeting surface runoff regulation and reduction of soil erosion. It is therefore necessary to reveal the main factors which affect their attitudes towards the implementation of ecosystem-based solutions for flood risk management. The review of the literature shows that the conducted scientific research on farmers’ attitudes towards the implementation of flood risk reduction measures is limited. However, since the 1990s, there has been a strong research interest in the field of farmers’ adoption of conservation measures. In Europe, research focuses on farmers' participation in agri-environmental measures under the Common Agricultural Policy. The aim of this paper is to discuss the role of farmers in flood risk reduction by examining their attitudes to adopt agri-environmental measures. The adoption behavior is analyzed by conducting а survey among 77 farmers in Iskar river catchment in Bulgaria. A structured interview was carried out in order to reveal willingness to adopt three types of measures whose purpose is to regulate the surface runoff and to reduce soil erosion. At the present moment, all of the measures are subsidized by the Pillars of the Common Agricultural Policy which raises the question about the current level of implementation of these measures in Bulgaria. In this regard, the structured interview includes questions about the implementation of Rural Development Program 2014-2020. The main findings concentrate around the conclusion that the level of information regarding the possibilities for implementing ecosystem-based measures as well as the potential effect of their provision is low. Also, the prevailing practice for oneyear contracts for agricultural land implies a lack of motivation to undertake a long-term environmental commitment. For the majority of the farmers is visible that there is a lack of understanding about the positive effects of the measures on the regulation of surface runoff and reducing flood risk.