Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 3.4
. Conceptual model of linkages from agricultural management factors to off-farm
ecosystem service (ES) changes. Modified from Chen (2010).
then presented with three land stewardship programs, with each proposing to make
different changes in (1) the number of lakes with excess nutrient levels and (2) the
percentage change in greenhouse gas emissions that scientists estimate is needed to
slow global warming. For each of three programs, respondents were asked:
“Would you vote for program (Y) if it increased income taxes and your share
of the increased tax was $X per year?”
The questionnaire was mailed in 14 versions, varying the tax rate ($X), the levels
of eutrophic lakes and greenhouse gas abatement, and whether the recipients of the
program payments were described as farmers or land managers.
The survey found significant public willingness to finance policies that would
pay land managers for changed practices to mitigate lake eutrophication, but less
support for financing mitigation of global warming (Chen 2010). The overall mean
marginal willingness to pay of Michigan residents was $175 per household per
year to reduce the number of eutrophic lakes by 170 and to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 0.52% of their 2000 levels. They did not care whether the funds for
changed land management went to farmers or other land managers.
Support for cleaner lakes was clear-cut. Respondents were willing to pay $0.45
per eutrophic lake per household per year, or $1.7 million annually per eutrophic
lake, based on the 3.8 million households in Michigan.
Most households were unwilling to pay for reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
This finding was due, in part, to the fact that 60% of households were unconcerned
