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Integrated land use models (ILM) are increasingly applied tools for the joint assessment of complexeconomic-environmental farming system interactions. We present an ILM that consists of the croprotation model CropRota, the bio-physical process model EPIC, and the farm optimization modelFAMOS[space]. The ILM is applied to analyze agri-environmental measures to maintain biodiversityin an Austrian landscape. We jointly consider the biodiversity effects of land use intensity (i.e.nitrogen application rates and mowing frequencies) and landscape development (e.g. provision oflandscape elements) using a rich indicator set and region specific species-area relationships. The cost-effectivenessof agri-environmental measures in attaining alternative biodiversity targets is assessed byscenario analysis.The model results show the negative relationships between biodiversity maintenance and grossmargins per ha. The absence of agri-environmental measures likely leads to a loss of semi-naturallandscape elements such as orchard meadows and hedges as well as to farmland intensifications. Theresults are also relevant for external cost estimates. However, further methodologies need to bedeveloped that can jointly and endogenously consider the complexities of the socio-economic land usesystem at farm and regional levels as well as the surrounding natural processes at sufficient detail forbiodiversity assessments.
