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An article published in the January/February issue of Journal of Soil and Water Conservation states that over 60% of landowners along Big Walnut Creek in Franklin County would not spend even one dollar for conservation efforts on their property. Factors affecting natural resource conservation investments of residents in the Lower Big Walnut Creek watershed, Ohio was written by Ted L. Napier, professor of environmental policy in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University, and Kelly McCutcheon and Jennifer Fish, staff members of Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District.
The survey included residential landowners of at least two acres in the area draining to Big Walnut Creek from Hoover Reservoir to its meeting with the Scioto River. Despite the unwillingness to invest in conservation on their property, participants had positive attitudes towards natural resource conservation. The most positive feedback showed support for the maintenance of good water quality in local streams and improving wildlife habitat.
The bridge between positive attitudes towards improving water quality and an unwillingness to spend could be incentives. Sixty-two percent of the participants reported that property tax reductions would be the biggest motivator to participate in conservation programs leading to cleaner water. Education was another bridge to spending on conservation. About one third of the landowners would be more likely to use conservation practices if they knew they were providing better wildlife habitat, improving water quality, or preserving natural areas.
Franklin Soil and Water initiated the survey to gain a better understanding of attitudes of suburban landowners toward conservation programs commonly used on agricultural land. These include practices such as buffers and erosion control measures. Napier has previously developed models illustrating why farmers adopt conservation production systems and he found some differences in the results with suburban landowners. Rather than tax reductions and education, farmers tend to be motivated to participate in conservation practices by financial and technical assistance.
The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District promotes responsible land use decisions for the conservation, protection and improvement of soil and water resources through partnering, technical guidance and education.
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