Economic and Ethical Motivations for Forest Restoration and Incentive Payments

Abstract

Private forest owners are both the suppliers and consumers of forest ecosystem services which poses a unique challenge to using incentive-based strategies to encourage forest restoration. We used focus groups and deliberative monetary valuation (DMV) methods to understand the choices of forest owners in Mississippi and Florida. Participants acted as jurors and made judgements about what actions a hypothetical forest owner should make when offered compensation to enhance key ecosystem services. Fifteen major themes were identified via qualitative data analysis. Results support a proposed conceptual model that links perspectives toward forest management with the expression of cultural values and choice. Allocation of income to ecosystem improvements revealed that intentional forest owners seek to maximize utility through personal achievement benefits, rather than income generation alone. Findings have important implications for forest policy and program design by improving the design and efficiency of economic interventions.

Keywords:

• Cultural values
• deliberative monetary valuation
• ecosystem services
• forest owners
• forest restoration
• incentives
• longleaf pine

Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions in this publication are those of the authors and should not be construed to represent any official U.S. Department of Agriculture or U.S. Government determination or policy.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 In some cases, ownership of forests can be incidental, for example through inheritance or purchasing land that also has forest on it (Bengston, Asah, and Butler 2011).

2 Two participants were not landowners but worked as a manager or consultant for private landowners.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by USDA-NIFA project #2017-67023-26274.