search query: @indexterm Goals / total: 117
reference: 3 / 117
| Author: | Smyth, R. L. Watzin, M. C. Manning, R. E. |
| Title: | Investigating public preferences for managing Lake Champlain using a choice experiment |
| Journal: | Journal of Environmental Management
2009 : JAN, VOL. 90:1, p. 615-623 |
| Index terms: | choice theory experiment design management goals models USA Canada |
| Freeterms: | ecosystem management public preferences environmental tradeoffs Lake Champlain Quebec |
| Language: | eng |
| Abstract: | The article develops a choice experiment to examine public preferences for alternative Lake Champlain management scenarios across these issue areas. Five ecosystem attributes were varied across three levels and arrayed into paired comparisons following an orthogonal fractional factorial design. Based on two thousand questionnaires were distributed to basin residents, each including nine paired comparisons that required trading off two, three or four attributes. Completed surveys yielded 6541 responses which were analyzed using binary logistic regression. The results suggest the following: 1) although water clarity and beach closures were important, safe fish consumption was the strongest predictor of choice. 2) land use pattern and water chestnut distribution were weaker but also significant predictors, with respondents preferring less land development and preservation of the agricultural landscape. 3) safe fish consumption warrants additional management attention. The author argues because choice experiments provide information that is much richer than the simple categorical judgments more commonly used in surveys, they can provide managers with information about tradeoffs that could be used to enhance public support and maximize the social benefits of an ecosystem management program. |
SCIMA