Agroforestry Survey: A Summary of Response

This paper discusses the results of a survey conducted by the Organic Research Centre’s Agroecology Programme to gain an understanding of how landowners in the UK are currently using the woody components on their land, in order to assess whether there is potential from landowners to gain more both economically and ecologically from the woody components. This survey was intended to reach a wide audience of landowners that practiced both organic and non-organic farming. Organisations that helped to distribute this survey are listed in Appendix 1. The survey was a voluntary online survey, therefore the assumption is that landowners that took part would have had an interest in this topic and therefore may not be representative of all UK landowners. From March 2011 to May 2011 57 landowners participated in this survey, and results from these landowners are discussed

CONSOLE Project - Deliverable 6.5 - "Report on Dissemination and Communication Strategy"

This document consists of Task 6.1 (Dissemination and communication strategy) in the framework of WP6 (Dissemination and outreach) and Deliverable 6.5 (Report on dissemination and communication strategy). The main aim will be to boost the impact of the project, through communicating the knowledge and results of the project. The project will target a wide range of audiences in order to link research, evidence-based policy and public awareness. Communication activities, such as workshops, social media accounts and websites have been discussed in this plan as well as identified actors and stakeholders in order to effectively promote innovation in delivery of agri-environmental climate public goods (AECPG) by EU agriculture and forestry. This is a living document and will be continuously updated according to CONSOLE’s progress

Cultural symbols and landowners’ power:the practice of managing Scotland’s natural resource

This article deals with the claim that Scottish landowners' power is directly related to their status in law, by arguing that it is, in fact, much more to do with their (inter)relationship with particular cultural symbols that can be associated with the land. However, this presents a sociological problem, for the dominant sociological purchase on land is one which routinely interprets it as a social construction. The paper presented here differs, as it focuses on particular cultural symbols which have a socio-historical resonance in relation to land, and makes the argument that they maintain this presence because of their (inter)connection with particular social groupings, notably landowners. Therefore, it is simply not enough to identify landowners' status in law as the root cause of their power, but instead it should be seen as only one facet of it. I conclude by suggesting that just as important is the way in which landowners have appropriated cultural interpretations of the land to forefront their powers

CAP Direct Payments and Distributional Conflicts Over Rented Land within Corporate Farms in the New Member States

This paper aims to investigate whether distributional issues within corporate farms in the New Member States will be exacerbated by the introduction of the CAP direct payments. The paper focuses on the specific impact of the payments on the land rented to the corporate farms by private landowners. If the latter are not satisfied with the level of rent they receive, they have the option to end their rental contract and withdraw their land from the farm. Before the accession to the EU the landowners did not have strong incentives to withdraw, as the other available opportunities were not associated with higher returns on land ownership. However, this situation might change as the landowners can now cash the direct payments themselves, providing they keep their land in good agricultural and environmental condition. Propositions generated by a simple game, representing the negotiations between a corporate farm manager and an individual landowner about the level of the rent, suggests that the CAP direct payments might induce more rent renegotiations but that overall withdrawals will be infrequent. The results from a survey of landowners in corporate farms in Slovakia and in the Czech Republic seemed to corroborate these a priori expectations. The investigation of the determinants of landowners' intended behaviour showed that what seems to be important in the decision-making is the relationship between landowners and managers. Landowners who have frequent contacts and close relations with the farm are less likely to withdraw.CAP direct payments, corporate farms, distributional conflicts, game theory, landowners, Agricultural and Food Policy, Land Economics/Use,

Community Land Conservation in the Coastal Watershed

The New Hampshire Estuaries Project (NHEP) provided a $10,000 grant to the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire (SELTNH) to support the hiring of a Community Land Protection Specialist to expand the region’s capacity to implement and complete conservation efforts within the coastal watershed, and specifically within the Lamprey River and Exeter River corridors. Over a period of eighteen months (January 2007 through June 30, 2008), the Community Land Protection Specialist (Specialist) worked with the Town of Brentwood, the Lamprey River Advisory Committee, and other community partners to conserve critical lands along the Exeter River, Lamprey River, and other areas of the coastal watershed. The Community Land Protection Specialist Managed all aspects of nine land conservation transactions completed during the grant period. Six projects (236 acres) are within the coastal watershed and include 1,200 feet of frontage on the Lamprey River and more than 800 feet of frontage on the Exeter River. Three other projects (189 acres) were outside of the coastal watershed. Assisted with the completion of six other land conservation transactions completed during the grant period, totaling 213 acres in the coastal watershed and 17 acres outside of the coastal watershed. The projects in the coastal watershed included 8,000 feet of frontage on the Lamprey River, 300 feet on the Taylor River, and a significant salt marsh in Rye. Conducted direct outreach (including personal letters and phone calls) in collaboration with the Lamprey River Advisory Committee to more than 45 landowners along the Lamprey River, resulting in follow-up interest among at least six landowners with ongoing conservation discussions including some appraisals and pending offers. Also hosted a land protection workshop attended by twenty-three interested landowners In collaboration with the Town of Brentwood assisted four landowners interested in conserving their land by helping them with their applications to the USDA Wetlands Reserve Program In addition, the Specialist coordinated outreach activities for targeted landowners. One estate planning and conservation options workshop was hosted in June 2007 in Epping, drawing 20 landowners. An introductory mailing and follow up calls were made to priority landowners within the Lamprey River watershed, yielding several land conservation projects that are in current discussions

Investigating the Potential of Fee-Based Recreation on Private Lands in the Lower Mississippi River Delta

Private landowners may be willing to allow public access for fee-based wildlife-associated recreation. A survey and econometric techniques are proposed to determine what characteristics may influence the probability to decide to offer recreation, what organizational form landowners may prefer to manage and market fee-based recreation, and how liability concerns and other possible disincentives collectively influence landowners' access decisions.wildlife-associated recreation, liability perceptions, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Promoting Voluntary Land Conservation on the Lamprey, Exeter, and Squamscott River Corridors

With the support of the New Hampshire Estuaries Project, the Rockingham Land Trust (RLT) researched the names and addresses of landowners along the Exeter, Squamscott, and Lamprey River corridors and within the target communities. Landowners were invited to participate in one of two free, land conservation and estate planning workshops. RLT followed up with each participant by letter and phone. The goal of the project was to secure the completion of three conservation easements from participants in the workshops. Due to low landowner participation and the significant decision involved in completing a conservation transaction, this goal was determined to be unrealistic, and RLT focused its time and resources on working with landowners within the NHEP area and the targeted river corridors who were ready to commence with a conservation transaction. Four landowners within the targeted river corridors or communities have contacted RLT in the past year. RLT has completed one conservation easement on land on the Exeter River in Sandown, has two pending conservation projects (one easement and one fee simple) on the Lamprey River in Epping, and has one pending conservation easement on land in Brentwood

New York City\u27s Drinking Water - Champagne or Beer?

Every day millions of New Yorkers drink the water from the reservoirs of the Hudson Valley. The water from these reservoirs, however, is dangerously contaminated with pathogens such as giardia and cryptosporidium. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection has undertaken measures to correct this problem and prevent further contamination by proposing revised watershed regulations. These proposed regulations, in effect, regulate the way that upstate landowners, whose property is located in a watershed, may use their land. Although the purpose of the proposed regulations is to protect the watersheds, the source of the New York City drinking water, it can only be achieved at the expense of regulating upstate landowners. This article explores the proposed regulations and potential effects it may have on the upstate landowners

Factors Influencing Lease Revenue and Non-industrial Landowners' Willingness to allow Hunting Access

Despite the fact that earnings associated with selling hunting leases could significantly contribute to landowners' incomes, only a small minority of them allow access on their lands for a fee. Based on a sample survey of Mississippi state landowners, we analyzed landowners' willingness to participate in supplying leases as well as factors influencing lease revenue per fee acre. While landowners' decision to allow hunting access and factors influencing lease revenue per acre were jointly modeled consistent with Heckman's analysis of sample selectivity bias, the hunting lease revenue function was specified in accordance with Rosen's hedonic pricing theory. Empirical results showed landowners' concerns about control over their land, loss of privacy and damage to property, and accident liability insurance reduced their willingness to allow hunting access; and, in contrast, increase in total land holding, race and residential location increased the probability of participation. With regards to factors explaining differences in lease revenue per fee acre, analysis showed that location, expertise in managing fee hunting enterprise, provision of services, and certain wildlife habitats account for systematic variations in lease revenues. These findings have implications for landowners' management of their lands, the design of extension programs, and public agencies engaged in the provision of natural resource based recreation.Marginal lands, Mississippi, Incentive programs, Recreation, Wildlife enterprises, Farm Management, Q510, Q260,

Conveying the Role of Professional Farm Managers to Potential Clientele

Many farmland owners opt to work directly with farmer-tenants while others choose to hire a professional farm manager to assist in the management of their land. As absentee landownership increases and more landowners become less associated with farming, professional farm managers have increased opportunity to communicate their role to potential clientele. Some landowners have an opportunity to make the most of their situation by enlisting the services of a professional farm manager, but only if they know what can be expected from a professional farm manager. We discuss some of the benefits and disadvantages to landowners and tenants of professional farm management and how professional farm managers can convey these ideas to potential clients and assist landowners to choose the best farm manager for their farm.Farm Management,