This study explores the willingness to pay (WTP) for an improvement of the environmental situation in agricultural areas with a specific focus on landscape aesthetics. We used the contingent valuation method to measure the discrete value of landscape aesthetics externalities produced by different beneficial management practices implementation scenarios. The choice experiment method was also used to measure the economic value of other ecosystem services in order to situate landscape in consumers’ preferences among other non-market benefits produced by agri-environmental practices. We found important WTP for landscape aesthetics improvement, as well as for other ecosystem services, such as water quality and fish diversity.

Through the analysis of semi-structured interviews held with key actors involved in the planning of the Greater Montreal region, we seek to understand the conditions that could lead to the establishment of a green infrastructure for the city. This article first describes the region's environmental and political context and then analyzes the opportunities, constraints, advantages and disadvantages in the implementation of this type of project. We conclude that experts favor an approach leading to ecological connectivity, but they underline several obstacles that could hinder its implementation.