Leahy, Jessica

English

University of Maine

The University of MaineDigitalCommons@UMaineForest Resources Faculty Scholarship School of Forest Resources3-25-2016Public Access to Private Land: Research SummaryJessica Leahyjessica.leahy@maine.eduFollow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/sfr_facpubPart of the Forest Management CommonsThis Presentation is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Forest ResourcesFaculty Scholarship by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contactum.library.technical.services@maine.edu.Repository CitationLeahy, J. 2016. "Public Access to Private Land: Research Summary." Presentation to the Maine Landowner Sportsmen Advisory Boardto the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. Augusta, ME.  Jessica E. Leahy University of Maine – School of Forest Resources March 25th, 2016  Key Questions  Is there a widespread problem?  If so, what are the problems?  What are potential solutions?  Penobscot County (PC) Survey Research – 2007-08 •  Sampling: –  Family forests, industrial, & other owners by parcel –  2500 surveys, 750,000 acres –  Selected based on tax info and available parcel-level GIS •  Response Rate & Size: –  51.72%, 853 unique private, individual landowners  Focus Group (FG) Research –  2009-10  10 Focus Groups:   70 Landowners & 19 Other Stakeholders  Landowners in: Baldwin, Bremen, Farmington(2), Machias, Presque Isle, Wells  Recreation interest groups, landowner and agricultural interest groups, & government agency representatives in Augusta  Statewide (S) Survey Research –  2010-11  Focused on policies &   programs  1,600 landowners   Organized towns & LURC  10-1,000 acres  50% response rate   Is there a widespread problem?  Yes.  Do you plan to restrict or prohibit some types of recreation on your  land in the future? No             42.1%  Maybe      28.5%  Yes            29.3% 57.8%!!! Source: S Survey  Frequency Public Participates in Recreation Activities that I do NOT Wish to Have Source: S Survey   If so, what are the problems?  Many.  Problems Source: PC Survey  Problems Identified in Focus Groups  Physical Damages – Littering & dumping  Access Policies – Liability concerns  User Behaviors – Off-trail riding Source:  FG Source: S Survey   What are potential solutions?  Many good options. Some bad ideas.   First off…  The solutions depends on who you ask:   Landowners: Harsher fines for litter & dumping   Former MLSAB: Annual clean-up day   Recreation Interest Groups: PSAs   Government: ATV training & PSAs   Landowner Interest Groups: Enhance state LR program  Source: FG  Second…  We can breathe a sign of relief.   Paying landowners not an option. Source: S Survey Feeling respected by recreationists is an important factor for me to allow access.   Agree to Strongly Agree From Away: 58% Mainers: 78% The Importance of Respect Source: PC Survey  Liability Concerns  I am familiar with Maine’s landowner liability laws:   30.4% Somewhat or strongly agree   18.4% Somewhat or strongly disagree  The landowner liability law does not protect me sufficiently from recreationists using my land:   25.2% Somewhat or strongly agree   11.0% Somewhat or strongly disagree Source: PC Survey  Landowners Supportive of a Multi-Faceted Approach 69.4	  64.5	   62	   62	   60.8	   59.8	   58.7	   57.8	  51.1	   50.8	   50.7	   47.7	   43.8	   40.1	  30.6	  0	  10	  20	  30	  40	  50	  60	  70	  80	  90	  100	  Percent	  Agree	  to	  Strongly	  Agree	  Source: S Survey  Surprises! 1.  Recreation activity-specific preferences and problems exist. 2.  It’s not the people from away who are   posting. Source: PC Survey  Present Access Future w/o Program Future w/ Program Policy-Maker Interest Yes No Yes High No No Yes High Yes No No Medium No Yes Yes Medium Yes Yes Yes Low No No No Low No Yes No -- Yes Yes No -- Surprises! 3. It pays to look closely for possible efficient & effective policies/programs. Source: S Survey  Combine this graph with posting plans (see next slide) 69.4	  64.5	   62	   62	   60.8	   59.8	   58.7	   57.8	  51.1	   50.8	   50.7	   47.7	  43.8	  40.1	  30.6	  0	  10	  20	  30	  40	  50	  60	  70	  80	  90	  100	  Percent	  Agree	  to	  Strongly	  Agree	  Source: S Survey  Top Five Landowner Preferred Programs by Posting Plans Yes Planning to Post • ATV Training • K-12 Ethics • Respect PSA • Ethics Media Campaign • No Liability w/ Fees Maybe  Planning to Post • K-12 Ethics • ATV Training • No Liability w/ Fees • Respect PSA • Ethics Media Campaign Not Planning to Post • K-12 Ethics • Respect PSA • No Liability w/ Fees • Technical Assistance • Tax Deduction Source: S Survey  What about Land Users?   Online survey using Qualtrics software  Email lists provided by IF&W:   Hunting   Fishing   Snowmobiling   ATV   Wildlife   Wildlife Park   News Land User Survey - 2013   Population: 227,524 emails  Proportional, random selection of 4,000  Removed duplicates  Sent 3,936 email invitations  Response rate:   493 started (12.5%)   399 answered at least one question (10.1%)   300 completed entire survey (7.6%) Land User Survey - Methods   70% working full-time, 18% retired  89% male  Education   15% HS or less,    35% some college/associates (AA, AS)   29% bachelors (BS, BA)   21% grad degree (MS, PhD, JD, MD) Who Responded?   Residency:   67% live in ME full time,    7% seasonal,    26% out-of-state  Landownership:   28% own >10 acres of land in ME    62% of them live on their land   54% do not post their own land Who Responded?   58% feel that posting is increasing: Results Answer Response % Increasing 232 58% Decreasing 36 9% Staying the same 45 11% Not sure 86 22% Total 399 100%   58% feel there is not enough open land: Results Answer Response % Not enough 231 58% Just right 72 18% Too much 6 2% Not sure 89 22% Total 398 100%   63% have experienced posting of land they once used: Results Answer Response % Yes 231 63% No 110 30% Not Sure 27 7% Total 368 100%   53% are either extremely concerned or very concerned about issues related to public recreation access to private land in Maine: Results Answer Response % Not at all concerned 17 4% Somewhat concerned 157 40% Very concerned 146 37% Extremely concerned 64 16% Not sure 13 3% Total 397 100%   47% of land users live in areas that are highly posted: Results Answer Response % A very limited amount (0-20%) is open to recreation users 98 25% A limited amount (21-40%) is open to recreation users 88 22% A moderate amount (41-60%) is open to recreation users 102 26% A substantial amount (61-80%) is open to recreation users 40 10% A very substantial amount (81-100%) is open to recreation users 18 5% Not sure 53 13% Total 399 100%   78% of land users recreated on private land in Maine last year: Results Answer Response % Yes 288 78% No 65 18% Not Sure 15 4% Total 368 100%   77% knew who owned the land   33% residential landowner, 32% large landowner   62% asked permission to use the land   47% asked permission in person, 11% asked permission over the phone Results   Issues similar to landowner surveys: Results 18.21% 16.53% 15.41% 14.85% 14.01% 12.04% 10.36% 9.80% 9.80% 0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% Litter Crop damage Damage to buildings or equipment Erosion Theft Damage to fences / gates Dumping Damage to trails or roads Damage to trees Never/Rarely Sometimes Most of the Time/Always   Who is causing the problems viewed similarly:   ATV Riders   Locals illegally dumping   Teenagers Results   Top 3 policy preferences for tax deductions, youth-based programs, and law enforcement shared: Results   Capitalize on shared concern held by landowners and land users    More joint action-oriented efforts  Focus on issues corroborated on both sides   Illegal dumping, ATV use, etc.  First step could be youth programs    Think outside the box: apps, YouTube, after school options, reinvigorate safety programs Recommendations  Questions? jessica.leahy@maine.edu 

Public Access to Private Land: Research Summary

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&amp;context=sfr_facpub

Public Access to Private Land: Research Summary

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of Maine