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The prioritisation of measures was based on transparent multi-criteria considerations aligned with the optimisation framework of the project.
Key criteria typically included:
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Feasibility: technical suitability, compatibility with local farming practices, land-use constraints and administrative requirements.
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Effectiveness: expected contribution to performance indicators such as water retention efficiency and nutrient retention efficiency, as later quantified through process-based modelling.
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Cost-related aspects: investment requirements, maintenance effort and potential economic implications for farmers.
Importantly, effectiveness assessments at this stage were preliminary and qualitative. Quantitative evaluation of impacts was subsequently carried out through predictive modelling (e.g., SWAT+, SWAP) and multi-objective optimisation.
The structured use of feasibility, effectiveness and cost criteria enabled the selection of measure portfolios that were both context-sensitive and analytically robust, forming the basis for optimisation analyses at catchment scale.