Agriculture and wildlife : an economic analysis of waterfowl habitat management on farms in western Oregon

Graduation date: 1990This study is a policy analysis of the incentives, including fee hunting, as a means to promote wildlife habitat development on private agricultural land. The management of habitat for migratory waterfowl in Western Oregon was investigated as a case study. Three separate analysis techniques were employed, presented as independent manuscripts. In the first manuscript the results of a survey are reported of farmers who have waterfowl habitat, or who have the potential to develop habitat. Results indicate that incentives to manage land for wild ducks and geese\ud include: (1) the financial incentive from leasing hunting rights to waterfowl hunters, (2) personal enjoyment from waterfowl hunting, and (3) aesthetic enjoyment from waterfowl. Disincentives identified were: (1) negative attitudes towards hunters and, (2) concerns over liability suits by hunters. Wildlife depredation did not appear as a disincentive to investing in habitat improvements. In the second manuscript statistically significant determinants of farmers' decisions to manage land for the benefit of waterfowl are identified. Using logistic regression, the most significant predictor identified is\ud revenues from hunting leases. However, evidence is provided to support the hypothesis that financial motives are influenced by non-economic forces, such as attitudes, trespass and liability issues, physical characteristics of the farm, and the farmers' participation in waterfowl hunting. In the third manuscript the effectiveness of incentives offered through government habitat cost-share programs and incentives provided by the market for hunting access are compared in terms of farmers' provision of\ud waterfowl habitat and opportunities for waterfowl hunting. Results of linear programming simulation indicate that government programs are relatively ineffective compared to market incentives, and that incentive policies need to be flexible, taking into account local market conditions and farm production possibilities