Participation in the Next Generation of Agriculture Conservation Programs: The Role of Environmental Attitudes

Provides a behavioral analysis of wetland owners' decision to participate in the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). The authors identify the WRP as an incentive based land use program that relies on voluntary participation. The role of environmental attitudes in voluntary environmental program participation is addressed using the theory of reasoned action. A probit model is used with data collected from a mail survey of 174 Louisiana wetland owners. Results of the analysis indicate that positive attitudes toward the WRP, acreage of wetlands owned, the level of information about the WRP, ownership of farmed wetlands, involvement in environmental organizations, and income level had a significant and positive influence on the decision to offer to participate in the WRP. Higher levels of education, and number of people living in the household (potential heirs) had an adverse effect on the likelihood to offer wetlands for enrollment in the WRP.