Conservation incentives programs for endangered species: An analysis of landowner participation

It has been argued that the land-use restrictions prescribed by the Endangered Species Act have failed to protect endangered species on private land. Hence, there has been a call for using incentives to complement this regulatory approach. This paper uses data from a survey of private forest owners to examine the demographic and land characteristics that determine landowner participation in incentives programs. The results suggest that targeting incentives to younger landowners who have acquired property more recently, who own more woodland, and who are interested in conservation and providing wildlife habitat may be effective in increasing participation rates.