Value conflicts as barriers to farmer participation in incentive programs for riparian buffers in the Puget Sound
Presentation Abstract
Payment for ecosystem services programs seek to compensate land managers for changes to enhance ecosystem services and/or biodiversity, yet increasing participant enrollment is a common challenge. Adapting PES programs to better fit with rural land manager and farmer values could make programs more attractive without decreasing their ecological effectiveness. We examine the possibility of value misalignment or conflict between participants and programs, which has proven an impediment to conservation efforts in many types of programs. We conducted in-depth interviews with farmers and rural land managers in Snohomish County in Washington State regarding programs to create riparian buffers along streams and rivers on their land. We found key value conflicts between participants and programs in the areas of aesthetics, knowledge bases used and relationships to land and nature. Analysis of participant responses suggests that grounding conservation programs of all sorts in locally salient values could not only increase enrollment but has the potential to foster the kinds of stewardship values that underlie conservation.
Session Title
Understanding What Matters to Agricultural Poducers
Conference Track
SSE2: Collaboration and Engagement
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE2-23
Start Date
5-4-2018 1:45 PM
End Date
5-4-2018 2:00 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Environmental management--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Ecostem services--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Farms--Valuation--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Riparian areas--Washington (State)--Puget Sound--Management
Geographic Coverage
Puget Sound (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Value conflicts as barriers to farmer participation in incentive programs for riparian buffers in the Puget Sound
Payment for ecosystem services programs seek to compensate land managers for changes to enhance ecosystem services and/or biodiversity, yet increasing participant enrollment is a common challenge. Adapting PES programs to better fit with rural land manager and farmer values could make programs more attractive without decreasing their ecological effectiveness. We examine the possibility of value misalignment or conflict between participants and programs, which has proven an impediment to conservation efforts in many types of programs. We conducted in-depth interviews with farmers and rural land managers in Snohomish County in Washington State regarding programs to create riparian buffers along streams and rivers on their land. We found key value conflicts between participants and programs in the areas of aesthetics, knowledge bases used and relationships to land and nature. Analysis of participant responses suggests that grounding conservation programs of all sorts in locally salient values could not only increase enrollment but has the potential to foster the kinds of stewardship values that underlie conservation.
