RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Early Exposure to Nature and Willingness to Pay for It: The Value of Tallgrass Prairie Grassland Restoration JF Land Economics FD University of Wisconsin Press SP 509 OP 527 DO 10.3368/le.99.4.070822-0054R VO 99 IS 4 A1 Li, Liqing A1 Ando, Amy W. YR 2023 UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/99/4/509.abstract AB Widespread global grassland destruction motivates restoration efforts. However, little research on public preferences exists to inform restoration decisions, and reduced exposure to nature such as grasslands could diminish public willingness to pay (WTP) for it. We conducted a choice experiment to estimate preferences over tallgrass prairie grassland restorations and quantify how those preferences are correlated with childhood experiences. We find that WTP for grassland restoration can be large, especially with recreational opportunities. Further, people who participated in outdoor activities or grew up near grasslands during their childhood place a higher value on grassland restoration than people who did not.