Abstract:
On the national level, landowners demand for conservation programs like
EQIP and WRP has far outstripped federal funding in 2001. Yet within Oregon's
Willamette Valley, both EQIP and CREP have had a rough time gaining
momentum. Much of the past research on rural landowners' conservation
participation has relied on surveys collecting quantitative data on economic
incentives, socio-demographic and farm structure characteristics and the traditional
adoption-diffusion model.
These past research factors provide a limited understanding of landowners'
decision processes. Through the use of participant observation, in-depth interviews,
a focus group and cognitive techniques, this study complements past research by 1)
exploring southern Willamette Valley landowners' perceptions of conservation
programs and 2) better understanding lesser known and obvious influences on
landowners' decisions whether to participate in such conservation programs.
Half of the landowners in the study sample represent grass seed growers,
another quarter represent other farmers and ranchers and the last quarter represent
non-farming rural residential. Grass seed farmers were of particular interest
because they manage half of the 900,000 acres in production in the Willamette
Valley and thus have significant impact on the regional landscape.
Landowners approach conservation programs with a world view based on a
utilitarian conservationist perspective of natural resources and a strong belief in
private property rights. Local conservation agency representatives have an
understanding of local landowners' world view, but lack the time to develop the
personal rapport and technical skills needed to increase their effectiveness and help
rural landowners negotiate the socially complex process of securing permits and
financial support. In sum, structural problems are having a significant effect on
participation in the southern Willamette Valley.
Opportunities also exist for increased education on differing world views
between urban and rural peoples. Due to misunderstandings between the two
groups, rural landowners feel they are unfairly held accountable for environmental
degradation and at the mercy of an unknowledgeable voting majority and therefore
often do not even try to participate in public supported conservation programs.
