Bio-economic considerations for wetland policy on an agricultural landscape

Abstract

This study looks at land use allocation and wetland management on an agricultural landscape in the Canada’s Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) within the context of social, ecological and economic factors. Policy considerations for the conservation of wetlands on an agricultural landscape are examined with a focus on financial incentive-based policy tools. Empirical research looks at the influences on wetland management and the potential for economic incentives in wetland policy. In addition, a spatial approach was employed to develop specific wetland conservation targeting scenarios for two case study farms in two distinct agricultural regions of Saskatchewan. Each targeting scenario was investigated to determine the potential effect on ecological goods and services, particularly carbon sequestration, as well as farm income over time. A hypothetical financial incentive-based wetland conservation program was developed looking at the potential of interplay with private carbon markets.Land productivity, which is directly related to farm profitability, was the most important factor in predicting farmer participation in wetland conservation voluntarily (P