Poyang lake wetlands restoration in China: An analysis of farmers’ perceptions and willingness to participate

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to inform the stakeholders about individual farmers’ attitudes toward Poyang Lake wetlands restoration, preferences about compensation policies, and their willingness to participate in wetland restoration. Using survey data from the Poyang Lake region, this paper investigates the factors affecting individual farmers’ willingness-to-accept (WTA) compensation amounts and the decision to participate. Particularly, we incorporate into analysis farmers’ knowledge about wetland restoration and perceptions toward government policies. The research findings first suggest individual characteristics and household attributes affect both farmers’ willingness to participate and WTA. While numbers of seniors and of farm laborers in the household have larger impact on participation decisions, marriage status, house value and household income play more important roles in determining the WTA compensation amount; 2) Positive attitudes toward government wetland policy not only increase willingness to participate but decrease WTA compensation amount; 3) A better understanding of the environmental benefits of wetland restoration leads to acceptance of a lower compensation amount. Our study provides important policy implications to the government that supplementing monetary compensation with educational programs and policy campaigns may increase farmers’ participation in wetland restoration.