Scaling up Payments for Watershed Services: Recommendations for Increasing Participation in Watershed Conservation Among Non-Industrial Private Forest Landowners in the Sebago Lake Watershed, Maine

摘要

Payments for Watershed Services (PWS) programs are receiving attention throughout the U.S. as apolicy option to secure water quality in a cost effective manner. PWS programs face many challengesin implementation; prominent among them is designing a program that generates interest andparticipation among the suppliers of water quality, upstream private landowners. This report seeks toinform the development of a PWS program in Southeast Maine by examining the system ofincentives needed to encourage private forest owners to adopt conservation best managementpractices that enhance water quality downstream. While focused on the Sebago Lake watershed,which provides drinking water for the Greater Portland area, this project approaches the localizedstudy as a specific case to identify biophysical, institutional, economic and social factors that favor orlimit the scaling up of PWS schemes. This analysis combines a systematic review of literature onlandowner preferences to existing incentive programs, interviews with program administrators fromPWS schemes throughout the U.S., and interviews with key stakeholders in Southeast Maine. Thisreport provides a set of recommendations organized around: segmentation of landowners; targetingand positioning PWS programs; selecting attractive program attributes; and leveraging effectiveoutreach channels and tactics. Key recommendations include: co-create program attributes withlandowners; encourage peer to peer communication to build support and awareness; provide aportfolio of financial and non-financial incentives to increase interest; and partner with existingconservation organizations to add capabilities and resources.