A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Land Diversity at the Mead Preliminary Research from a Problem-Based Environmental Economics Service Learning Project

Outline Eco 342: Environmental Economics Service Learning Project (SLP) History of George W. Mead Wildlife Area Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)  Problem  Costs  Survey of Benefits  Preliminary Results Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

SLP Fall 2009: 11 th Hour Began conversations mid-October Tom Meier (Property Manager) and Pam Resech (Educational Coordinator) at the Mead helped design the service learning project.  Provide an economic assessment of land diversity at the Mead  Volunteered labor as a class Class voted on project October 28 th

SLP Fall 2009: Design Project Timeline and Deadlines  Project Outline (Nov 3 rd HW) Define the question and alternative Consider data collection List benefits and Cost considerations  Literature review on benefit topic (Nov 17 th HW)  Cost measure questions (Dec 1 st )  Survey questionnaire (Dec 7 th )  Combine Intro and research design (Dec 14 th ) Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

SLP Fall 2009: Volunteer November 6 th : Brushed trails and dikes December 4 th : Cleared Buckthorn Land diversity relies heavily on labor. Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

History of the Mead 1850s-1910s: Logging “pinery“ and farm dredging 1933: Consolidated Water Power and Paper Company purchase April 10, 1959: Stanton Mead gifts 20,000 acres to the state for use as a wildlife refuge. Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

History of the Mead Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

WI DNR: State Managed Lands Land Types  State Parks State Parks  State Forests State Forests  State Trails State Trails  State Natural Areas State Natural Areas  County Parks and Forests County Parks and Forests  Wildlife Areas Wildlife Areas Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010 Source

WI DNR: Wildlife Areas Section (2) (d) 3., State Stats., provides legislative authority and direction for the acquisition and management of state wildlife areas. The primary purpose of state wildlife areas as stated in this statute is to provide "areas in which any citizen may hunt, trap or fish". Section (1), Stats., provides for the general care, protection and supervision of state lands. Section 23.30, Stats., deals with the provisions of the outdoor recreation program. The management and uses of state wildlife areas are further defined in NR WI Admin Code. While hunting and trapping are the primary public uses for wildlife areas; other uses, such as walking, nature study, berry picking, and other low-impact recreational activities are also allowed. Other compatible open-space uses may be allowed under the property’s Master Plan when they do not detract from the primary purpose of the property; however, they may be limited in time and location to avoid interference with wildlife production or survival and public hunting and trapping. Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

CBA:Land Diversity Overview Should Mead land diversity be maintained? Approximately 33,000 Acres  1/3 Forests  1/3 Grasslands/Crops  1/3 Wetlands/Water Sunk Costs of $2 Million to create ponds, dykes, repair natural watershed, trails, and water control systems. Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

CBA: Costs Annual costs to retard tree growth Equipment:$35,000 Burning: $3,000 Spraying: $20,000 Mowing: $1,500 Dozing & Mulching: $1,750 Hand Brushing: $1,000 Annual costs to maintain wetlands Dike and equipment repair $15,000 Total$77,250 Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

CBA: Benefits Benefits of Land Diversity Use Values (7 categories) Hunting Birding Wildlife Watching Hiking & Biking Trapping Education Opportunities Non-Use Values (2 categories) Future Generations Existence Value Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

CBA: Survey Design Contingent valuation survey questions directed at  Donation Toward WA with diverse lands Toward WA entirely forested  $5 fee increase To fund diverse lands  Binary preference Land diversity or entirely forested  Number of visits (30 minutes) To WA with diverse lands To WA entirely forested Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010 Preliminary results

CBA: Survey Results How much would you donate? (all 9 categories) Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

CBA: Survey Results How much would you donate? (7 use categories) Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

CBA: Survey Results How much would you donate? (2 non-use categories) Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

CBA: Survey Results Would you support a temporary $5 fee increase? Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

CBA: Survey Results Would you support a temporary $5 fee increase? Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

CBA: Other Costs and Benefits Costs/Benefits Issues not explicitly measured or in survey  Timber Rotations  Timber & Crop Prices  Game Warden Monitoring  Maintenance of Invasive Species  Grants and Funding Sources  State endangered species  Share cropping of 500 acres/year Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010

CBA: Survey Survey is young Additional respondents next semester Need to reach a larger audience Appropriate population for the question Sensitivity analysis of questionnaire Donation(50%) $5 (0% to 95%) Questions? Wisconsin Economic Association: December 4, 2010