Private forest owners and property tax incentive programs in the United States: A national review and analysis of ecosystem services promoted, landowner participation, forestland area enrolled, and magnitude of tax benefits provided

An investigation of the effects of conservation incentive programs on management of invasive species by private landowners

“…Reasons for this lack of uptake include technical difficulties, organizational barriers that do not facilitate a culture of evaluation, and political obstacles (Keene & Pullen, 2011). Most studies still rely on the assessment of program outputs (e.g., how many landowners are enrolled in the program, or, how many landowner workshops were held) instead of program outcomes (e.g., has the program caused a change in landowners' conservation behaviors, or, has the program led to a recovery of ecological function) (Kilgore et al, 2018). Most studies still rely on the assessment of program outputs (e.g., how many landowners are enrolled in the program, or, how many landowner workshops were held) instead of program outcomes (e.g., has the program caused a change in landowners' conservation behaviors, or, has the program led to a recovery of ecological function) (Kilgore et al, 2018).…”

“…Especially, impact evaluations of governmental conservation incentive programs for private landowners are lacking (but see York, Janssen, & Carlson, 2006 for an institutional assessment of several incentive programs in Indiana). Most studies still rely on the assessment of program outputs (e.g., how many landowners are enrolled in the program, or, how many landowner workshops were held) instead of program outcomes (e.g., has the program caused a change in landowners' conservation behaviors, or, has the program led to a recovery of ecological function) (Kilgore et al, 2018). The current study is a rare exception from this pattern and stands out for its analysis of the reported behavior of participants in two conservation programs as well as for its quasi-experimental design utilizing two treatment levels (CLTIP and MFTIP) and a control group (not participating in either program) (but see Josefsson et al, 2017).…”

“…Because of the importance of private land for conservation in southern Ontario, conservation legislation and programs that aim specifically at private land (agricultural and nonagricultural) are of major importance in this region. Accordingly, instead of using penal legislation to punish conservationdetrimental behaviors, increasingly conservation incentive programs are used to reward conservation-friendly behaviors, including conservation tax incentive programs (Kamal, Grodzi nska-Jurczak, & Brown, 2015;Kilgore, Ellefson, Funk, & Frey, 2018). Provincial conservation legislation does apply to private land, but in many cases provincial legislations is not enforced either due to financial resource constraints that limit government agencies' enforcement efficacy or because of governmental concern for political backlash if conservation legislation would be enforced strictly (e.g., Melstrom, Lee, & Byl, 2018).…”

“…Provincial conservation legislation does apply to private land, but in many cases provincial legislations is not enforced either due to financial resource constraints that limit government agencies' enforcement efficacy or because of governmental concern for political backlash if conservation legislation would be enforced strictly (e.g., Melstrom, Lee, & Byl, 2018). Accordingly, instead of using penal legislation to punish conservationdetrimental behaviors, increasingly conservation incentive programs are used to reward conservation-friendly behaviors, including conservation tax incentive programs (Kamal, Grodzi nska-Jurczak, & Brown, 2015;Kilgore, Ellefson, Funk, & Frey, 2018).…”

Forest land tax reductions – an effective payment for forest ecosystem services in Slovakia?

“…On the opposite, also tax programs exist, that are implemented as added land tax or sanction to protect forests from being converted to other uses (Hibbard et al 2001;Kilgore et al 2007;Šálka et al 2017). Land tax incentives are politically feasible because of their less demanding implementation, meaning that no direct expenditure is required, the administration is easier, and no additional action is required (Weimer & Vining 2011;Kilgore et al 2018).…”