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An evaluation of the socio-economic and ecological sustainability of agrarian ecosystems in Bulgaria

Author

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  • Hrabrin Bachev
  • Bozhidar Ivanov
  • Dessislava Toteva

Abstract

The ecosystem approach has been widely incorporated in the management and evaluation of agrarian sustainability. Despite enormous progress in this new evolving area, still there is no consensus on how to assess the sustainability of agro-ecosystems due to the diversity in understandings, approaches, methods, employed data, etc. In Bulgaria there are no comprehensive studies on the integral, socio-economic and ecological sustainability of the different types of agroecosystems. This paper makes a first attempt at assessing the sustainability of agro-ecosystems in Bulgaria. Initially, a holistic framework for assessing the integral, economic, social and ecological sustainability of agro-ecosystems, which includes 17 principles, 35 criteria, and 46 indicators and reference values, is suggested. After that, the integral and the multi-aspect sustainability of 7 generic and 10 specific agro-ecosystems in Bulgaria are assessed. The estimates are based on first-hand information collected by the managers of “typical” farms operating in different agro-ecosystems in 4 geographical regions of the country. The study has found out that there is a substantial variation in the level of integral and multi-aspect sustainability of the different types of agro-ecosystems, as well as in the level of contribution to the sustainability of various sub-sectors of agriculture and farms of different juridical type and size, where the individual indicators with the highest and lowest values show the (critical) factors which enhance or deter sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Hrabrin Bachev & Bozhidar Ivanov & Dessislava Toteva, 2019. "An evaluation of the socio-economic and ecological sustainability of agrarian ecosystems in Bulgaria," Economic Thought journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 2, pages 33-56,57-80.
    • Handle: RePEc:bas:econth:y:2019:i:2:p:33-56,57-80
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bachev, Hrabrin, 2017. "Environmental sustainability of Bulgarian agricultural Farms – assessment, state, factors," MPRA Paper 81658, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Hrabrin BACHEV & Dimitar TERZIEV, 2017. "Environmental Sustainability of Agricultural Farms in Bulgaria," Journal of Advanced Research in Management, ASERS Publishing, vol. 8(5), pages 968-994.
    3. Hrabrin Bashev, 2016. "Defining and Assessment of Sustainability of Farms," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 3, pages 158-188.
    4. repec:srs:journl:jemt:v:8:y:2017:i:5:p:968-994 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Sauvenier, Xavier & Valckx, Jan & Van Cauwenbergh, Nora & Wauters, Erwin & Bachev, Hrabrin & Biala, K. & Bielders, Charles & Brouckaert, Veronique & Garcia-Cidad, V. & Goyens, S. & Hermy, Martin & Mat, 2005. "Framework for assessing sustainability levels in Belgium agricultural systems - SAFE," MPRA Paper 99616, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hrabrin Bachev, 2020. "Defining, analyzing and improving the governance of agroecosystem services," Economic Thought journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 4, pages 3-30,31-55.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics

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