Evaluating Forest Management Incentive Programs

Project Title

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Public Incentive Programs for Forest Management and Restoration 

Project Description

Governmental programs in the form of financial incentives to promote natural resource conservation and management are widespread in the United States. However, farm and forest landowners usually have a variety of management goals and the public incentive programs do not incorporate all of them. This project will utilize a survey of forest and farm owners in North Carolina to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing cost-share programs and to assess landowners’ attitudes, preferences and willingness to participate in programs that promote nature-based solutions. By understanding these barriers to participation, these programs can improve their capacity to meet ecosystem services and conservation goals.

Principal Investigators

Rajan Parajuli
Fred Cubbage
Robert Bardon
Erin Sills

Expected Outcomes

This project will benefit current and future forest and farm landowners in North Carolina who rely on, or desire to participate in, cost-share programs to conserve and manage their private land.

• Increased understanding of landowner’s desire for land conservation and management
• Improved effectiveness of the governmental programs and communication.
• Greater participation of landowners in cost-share programs.
• Increased opportunities for governmental support and collaboration with small and underrepresented landowners in nature-based solutions.

Research Methods

• Identifying the key issues and barriers that landowners deal with the existing cost-share programs in North Carolina.
• Identifying landowners willingness to participate in programs through identifying desired incentives, management practices, frequency of payments, and the administrative process of these programs.
• Providing an analysis of landowner behavior and ideals to emerging program needs and priorities and their administration procedures.
• Providing governmental program providers with landowner feedback to improve program efficacy in natural resource conservation and sustainable management.

About McIntire-Stennis

The McIntire-Stennis program, a unique federal-state partnership, cultivates and delivers forestry and natural resource innovations for a better future. By advancing research and education that increases the understanding of emerging challenges and fosters the development of relevant solutions, the McIntire-Stennis program has ensured healthy resilient forests and communities and an exceptional natural resources workforce since 1962.