Paying for vegetation maintenance as an ecosystem service for the increase of wildlife population

Payments for ecosystem services (PES) are defined as those contracts in which landowners are paid to produce one or more ecosystem services. For many years Hunting Organizations in Greece pay landowners to improve habitats for wildlife species. This study examines the case of such an action which takes place in an area of the Regional Unit of Drama since 2006. Specifically, Hunting Organizations pay in total 2,000 € per year to the Agricultural Cooperative of Doxato to maintain stubble of cereals in an area of 7.5 km². Through questionnaires hunters demonstrated whether this action had positive effects on the quarry species abundance and hunting quality. The results showed that the quail (Coturnix coturnix) increased its abundance in the region and improved the quality of hunting. It can be concluded that the financial tool of PES is applicable in Greece by a Hunting Organization, it satisfies an important part of the land users, farmers and hunters, and can be an example for the implementation of such actions in Greece under the new Common Agricultural Policy.