Application of the SIte COmparison Method (SICOM) to assess the potential erosion risk — a basis for the evaluation of spatial equivalence of agri-environmental measures

The paper presents a comparative method (SICOM) to evaluate complex site conditions at different area units as a basis for the estimate of spatial equivalence of agri-environmental measures (AEM). The methodology uses primary site condition data and provides the possibility to compare these data objectively and evaluate different ecological questions. The linking of classified data and spatial equivalence data opens up new possibilities to localize areas of high/low environmental effectiveness (e.g. erosion risk) and to assess the ratio of AEM implementation (acceptance) versus financial input. The use of SICOM is demonstrated for water and wind erosion risk assessment at different scales in the federal state Brandenburg (Germany). The “parcel” aggregation level proves adequate to assess the erosion risk. Larger scales are less useful in the assessment of subsidies policy with regard to erosion risk. A combination of the GIS-moving-window-technique with SICOM establishes the possibility of comparing regions independent of spatial patterns within the landscape.