The aim of ECO²SCAPE is to generate the necessary system and action knowledge to maintain and enhance the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services in cultural landscapes. The research is based on the concept of multifunctionality of landscapes, in which perspectives and preferences regarding biodiversity and ecosystem services of different stakeholders are considered and integrated. In an interdisciplinary research approach, ECO²SCAPE further develops current methods from the fields of agricultural sociology, political science, ecoacoustics, machine learning, landscape ecology, environmental economics and ecological-economic optimization and links them in an innovative way. ECO²SCAPE thus develops practice-relevant approaches and policy recommendations for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services (especially result-based and cooperative reward) and brings them to pilot implementation. This is done by considering ecological, economic and social frameworks and governance structures in the development of measures and policy instruments, e.g. in the context of acceptance measurement. At the same time, it is investigated in which local governance structures measures – also outside of policy instruments – can be initiated and implemented in the model region in the future.