Farmers' attitudes toward the carrying out of wildlife habitat improvement actions (WHIA) in intensive agricultural areas of Northern Italy

摘要

The research aims at estimating farmers' willingness to carry out selected measures for creating or improving wildlife habitat on their farms. We have surveyed almost all farmers of one agricultural province (Ravenna) in Northern Italy, by sending 9,500 questionnaires enclosed in three major farm publications. The questionnaire was elaborated on the basis of the results of previous interviews with several farmers, hunters, public functionaries and managers of agri-environmental and wildlife sectors. The questionnaire was organised by dividing it into two main sections: the first covers socio-economic information about farmers and farm structures, while the second asks respondents about their willingness to carry out some selected wildlife habitat improvement actions (WHIA). Four main measures were proposed, involving: game crops, crops residues maintenance, management of set-aside land for wildlife and management and reclamation of abandoned fields. Different payment levels were proposed for each measure. A telephone survey of 100 farmers revealed that only 10% of them were aware of the questionnaires. We collected a total of 303 valid questionnaires (3,2% of the total, and 31,9% of the examined questionnaires); they arrived partly by mail and partly through agricultural extension agents. 128 of such farmers (42%) expressed a general willingness to carry out actions in favour of wildlife in the case of economic compensation; only 36 (12%) were willing to carry out the proposed intervention if a low level of subsidy were involved (the level actually proposed in agri-environmental and/or wildlife habitat measures in the Ravenna province). Variables correlating positively with participation in the WHIA program are: farm size, certain types of farm (mixed, with prevalence of arable crops, and with pasture, woodland and set-aside fields), previous participation in agri-environmental programmes, presence of hunting permits in the family, absence of wildlife damage experience, fanners' age (in upland areas), etc. Variables correlating negatively with participation in the WHIA program are: fruit crops, livestock breeding, absence of outsourcing, farmers' age (on the plain), etc.