Publications [#214749] of Randall Kramer

Book Chapters

1. R.A. Kramer, A. Jenkins, and A. Lesser, The Role of Ecosystem Service Payments in Achieving Conservation Goals: Attitudes Among Farm Operators”, in Valuing Ecosystem Services – Methodological Issues and Case Studies, K.N. Ninan, editor, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishers (forthcoming). (2014)
   (last updated on 2013/12/30)

   Abstract:
   A significant share of global ecosystem service production occurs on privately held land (especially land used for agriculture and forestry), implying that efforts to sustain and enhance ecosystem services would benefit from a focus on private land managers. This chapter examines ecosystem service markets as a possible mechanism for attaining conservation objectives on private lands. In particular, it reports on the results of a mail survey assessing the attitudes of farm operators managing private land in North Carolina towards conservation and ecosystem service programs. Choice experiments included in the survey provide an estimation of tradeoffs across alternative structures of a payment-for-ecosystem services (PES) program. While restricted in geographic scope to eastern North Carolina, interpretation of the study results yields conclusions that may help in the design and success of PES programs more generally. These include: 1) PES-type programs, particularly those focused on water quality and wildlife habitat, were of great interest to local farm operators, 2) Payment levels are an important factor in decisions to enroll, but so are other program attributes, particularly contract length, 3) Campaigns seeking to raise awareness and/or enrollment in conservation payment programs in general will benefit from a better understanding of preferred program characteristics among potential participants, 4) Campaigns seeking to raise awareness and/or participation in PES programs will meet with greater success if they can effectively focus on reaching land operators exhibiting particular characteristics.