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Science, economics and the design of agricultural conservation programmes in the US

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  • Madhu Khanna
  • Amy Ando

Abstract

Conservation programmes in the US have emphasised retirement of land from crop production as a mechanism for achieving multiple environmental benefits. Several features of these programmes, such as their eligibility criteria, participation incentives and length of contract, influence the performance of these programmes and their ease of implementation. The design of these programmes has evolved over time in an effort to increase environmental benefits while lowering costs. This paper reviews the key features of land retirement programmes in the US and their implications for programme effectiveness. In particular, it examines the potential benefits from spatial targeting of programme participants, linking contract length to the ecological services being targeted and relying more on science-based models for improving programme outcomes. Targeted land management focuses conservation practices on those portions of the landscape where they will achieve the greatest gains in environmental quality using limited programme budgets. The scientific basis for targeting conservation efforts is improving through better understanding of ecological and hydrological processes; however, better guidelines need to be developed to incorporate this understanding in developing decision support tools that local programme administrators can use effectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Madhu Khanna & Amy Ando, 2009. "Science, economics and the design of agricultural conservation programmes in the US," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(5), pages 575-592.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jenpmg:v:52:y:2009:i:5:p:575-592
    DOI: 10.1080/09640560902958115
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chen, Xiaoxuan & Ando, Amy Whritenour, 2006. "Optimal Contract Length for Voluntary Land Conservation Programs," 2006 Annual meeting, July 23-26, Long Beach, CA 21259, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
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    3. Claassen, Roger & Hansen, LeRoy T. & Peters, Mark & Breneman, Vincent E. & Weinberg, Marca & Cattaneo, Andrea & Feather, Peter & Gadsby, Dwight M. & Hellerstein, Daniel & Hopkins, Jeffrey W. & Johnsto, 2001. "Agri-Environmental Policy at the Crossroads: Guideposts on a Changing Landscape," Agricultural Economic Reports 33983, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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    6. Lennox, Gareth D. & Armsworth, Paul R., 2011. "Suitability of short or long conservation contracts under ecological and socio-economic uncertainty," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(15), pages 2856-2866.
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    8. Messer, Kent D. & Duke, Joshua M. & Lynch, Lori & Li, Tongzhe, 2017. "When Does Public Information Undermine the Efficiency of Reverse Auctions for the Purchase of Ecosystem Services?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 212-226.
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    10. Liu, M. & Huang, G.H. & Liao, R.F. & Li, Y.P. & Xie, Y.L., 2013. "Fuzzy two-stage non-point source pollution management model for agricultural systems—A case study for the Lake Tai Basin, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 27-41.
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    12. Agata Spaziante & Carlo Rega & Mirko Carbone, 2013. "Spatial Analysis of Agri-environmental Measures for the SEA of Rural Development Programmes," SCIENZE REGIONALI, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2013(2), pages 93-115.
    13. Sharma, Bijay P. & Cho, Seong-Hoon, 2021. "Analyzing how forest-based amenity values and carbon storage benefits affect spatial targeting for conservation investment," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    14. David Evans & Andrew Reeson, 2022. "The Performance of a Repeated Discriminatory Price Auction for Ecosystem Services," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 81(4), pages 787-806, April.
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