Cross-boundary Conservation Attributes of Farmland and Woodland Owners in the Greenbrier River Valley Landscape of Southeastern West Virginia

Abstract

Cross-boundary Conservation Attributes of Farmland and Woodland Owners in the Greenbrier River Valley Landscape of Southeastern West Virginia. Valerie Grant The Greenbrier River watershed features some of the most productive agriculture and timberlands, critical habitat, and extensive recreational opportunities in the central Appalachian Mountains. Cross-boundary conservation projects could address landscape scale issues such as parallelization and fragmentation in the agricultural, forest, and recreationally productive rural area in southeastern West Virginia. A survey of farmland and woodland owners explored relationships between landowner attributes, land management activities, sense of place, and willingness to participate in cross-boundary conservation efforts. Logistic regression analysis revealed two significant relationships between landowner attributes when considering neighboring properties while making management decisions and interest in conservation easements. These two attributes, contact with an agriculture professional or registered forester and conservation ethic (the affinity to and responsibility for land) could increase interest in cross-boundary conservation programs. Conservation ethic also had a negative relationship with interest in allowing leased access to properties for recreation or hunting, possibly because of perceived loss of privacy, identity, or control. Two main implications for reaching out to landowners and increasing participation in cross-boundary programs are: 1. Create opportunities for landowners to make contact with an agriculture or forestry professional, and 2. Design cross-boundary programs which mirror landowners existing practices, such as leasing. Thank you to my family, friends, and mentors for their support. Thank you to my committee and Dave McGill Ph.D., my advisor, for the opportunity.

Perceptions of Urban Forestry Employers

“…The questionnaires were sent using a modified Dillman method (Grant 2015, Fegel 2014). This multi-step process consisted of: an introductory postcard (Appendix XIII, Figure 1) sent before the questionnaire; the questionnaire (Appendix XIV, Figure 2) with an introductory letter (Appendix XIII, Figure 3) and prepaid, return envelope; a reminder postcard (Appendix XIII, Figure 2); and (if necessary) a second questionnaire with a different reminder letter (Appendix XIII, Figure 4).…”