Perceptions and Values for Preventing Ecosystem Change: Pennsylvania Duck Hunters and the Prairie Pothole Region

Abstract

Diverse actions and events, ranging from agricultural development to global climate change, have the potential to affect the dynamics within distinct ecosystems. Resource management decisions require information about how people perceive ecosystem impacts and their willingness to pay to prevent or mitigate ecosystem impacts. This study explores the usefulness of a survey approach for gathering such information, especially for ecosystem impacts from climate change. Values for reducing impacts on the Prairie Pothole Region are elicited from Pennsylvania duck hunters. Factor analysis is used to develop a method for examining and accounting for potential scenario rejection. (JEL Q26)