Landowner Consideration of Conservation Easement Utilization in the Adirondack Park of New York

Abstract

A survey regarding the granting of conservation easements was administered to private, non-commercial Adirondack Park landowners with a residence on their property. The theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991) and a conceptual model for easement adoption proposed by Kabii and Horwitz (2006) served as a framework for the study. Analyzed constructs included attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, nature conservation equity, nature conservation ethic, economic dependence on property, private property rights, confidence in permanent easement mechanisms, and demographic variables: gender, age, and years owned property. Significant relationships between constructs were identified and policy implications addressed.