Oral Abstract Details

Author(s):
Tania López Marrero and Marianne Meyn

Affiliation:
Institute of Caribbean Studies - University of Puerto Rico and Misión Industrial de Puerto Rico

Presentation Type:
Oral

Topic Area:
The relationship(s) between land-use policies and ecological processes/disturbances along urban-rural interfaces

Abstract Text:
As monetary resources to purchase lands for conservation become more scarce and competitive, the need to explore other initiatives for forest conservation in lands peripheral to protected areas becomes necessary. This is the case for forest conservation around El Yunque National Forest (EYNF) in Puerto Rico, where forest managers are increasingly trying to promote forest conservation incentives among landowners as a way to support El Yunque’s functioning and services. There is, however, a lack of understanding of landowners’ willingness to participate in land conservation programs. This study provides information on landowners' knowledge, understanding, and willingness to take part in three conservation programs promoted by EYNF managers. The results from thirty semi-structured interviews conducted with landowners in the proclamation area of EYNF suggest that there are different obstacles to promote conservation programs among landowners. These include, among others, not knowing about such conservation programs and associated incentives for landowners, lack of trust (and thus reluctance to get involved) on governmental programs, and not wanting to make decisions that could affect the way their inheritors want to manage their land in the future. Consequently, forest managers can not rely on current landowners-driven conservation programs alone; at least not the way the programs are stated. Parallel initiatives should be developed and promoted among landowners for the conservation of forested lands within and around El Yunque National Forest.