INCENTIVES TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS ON TIMBER LANDS IN THE WACCAMAW RIVER WATERSHEDAdvisor: Elizabeth Shapiro

What federal and state programs are effective in restoring aquatic ecosystems affected by timber management within the Waccamaw River watershed?

Secondary Questions:

• What past, current, and proposed restoration efforts are

occurring on timber lands in the Waccamaw River

watershed?

• Who are the stakeholders involved in implementing the

restoration and what are their motivations in restoration

efforts?

• What programs are currently used within the Waccamaw

River watershed to encourage restoration on timber lands? To

what extent are these programs effective?

• What programs have been effective in other regions of the

United States and why?

• What incentives would best motivate existing stakeholders to

participate in restoration efforts on timber lands?

Riggs SR, Ames DV, Brant DR, and Sager ED. 2000.

Methods, Data, and AnalysisBetter Understand the Watershed: • Take a kayak trip!• Emergent process of snowball sampling• Conduct semi-structured interviews with public

agencies, universities, and NGOs involved in conservation efforts within the watershed.

Focus on Timber Lands: • Semi-structured interviews with timber industry • Used to determine what programs, if any, are used

to promote restoration on timber lands. Provide a Watershed-Specific Analysis:• Identify key themes in interviews• Create a database and/or GIS map of conservation

and restoration activities in relation to timber lands• Provide recommendations for effective use of

incentive programs within the watershed to promote restoration

Preliminary Findings and Next StepsBased on 4 telephone interviews with NGOs and USFWS

• Conservation ethic: land acquisition• Limited restoration• River managed differently across state

line• Relationship with timber companies

cooperative, but land value is the bottom line

Next Steps: • Finish telephone interviews• Schedule interviews with 5 major timber

companies• Prepare GIS maps• Write!