Abstract

The Intermountain West region of the United States has experienced high population growth throughout the past twenty years. Conservation easements (CEs) may reduce the impacts of land fragmentation and adverse impacts on public goods from development.

The objective of this research is to identify variables that influence landowners’ decisions regarding acceptance of CEs. A landowner’s decisions may be influenced by his or her perceived role as a producer, consumer, and/or citizen and as such the choice model reflects these perspectives. Data gathered from a 2007 survey elicited responses from a representative, stratified, random sample of Colorado and Wyoming landowners. Data were analyzed in a random utility framework using random parameters logit.

The results identified that landowners were influenced by all three decision-making perspectives. A state of residence comparison identified that Colorado landowners are more likely to choose a CE, and significance of particular variables may partially explain why this may be the case.