Perceptions of, and Motivations for, Land Trust Conservation in Northern Michigan: An Analysis of Key Informant Interviews

Abstract

Land trusts are common and expanding mechanisms for conservation, although their impacts have been little-studied. The objective of this paper is to understand the perceptions and motivations of stakeholders of small-scale land trust conservation. We used 33 key informant interviews to learn the motivations and opinions of stakeholders regarding the Little Traverse Conservancy (LTC) of northern Michigan, USA. The interviews were coded for relevant themes and interpreted alongside a literature review. The highest reported motivation for stakeholder involvement with LTC was the protection of nature and scenic beauty. Economic and social factors were also considered motivators; however, were not the key facilitators for conservation action for LTC stakeholders. Interviews emphasized that relationship and partnership formations are critical for facilitating successful land conservation. We conclude that land trust organizations can captivate the long-term support and participation of stakeholders through the consideration of local dynamics and building upon existing community relationships.

An Assessment of the Implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in Kenya

“…The study was conducted in Nairobi, Kenya, the capitol city and headquarters of most agencies involved in CITES implementation. We used both qualitative and quantitative approaches [27,28] and exploratory, descriptive, and interpretive research designs [2]. While this qualitative approach is limited in not being amenable to many kinds of detailed statistics, it has proven useful in organizational analyses where many actors can affect outcomes in different ways depending on their positions [27].…”

“…Thirty-eight key informant (KI) interviews were completed from August through to October 2022. Expert sampling and snowballing [28] were used to identify informants from relevant agencies and organizations. Most surveys were conducted face-to face, but telephone or email surveys were used on occasions when the researcher could not meet respondents in person.…”