Farmer attitudes and behaviours regarding the restoration of woody vegetation on intensive pastoral dairy farms

Abstract

Woody vegetation networks in intensive agricultural landscapes provide many public ecosystem services, including mitigation of farming environmental impacts (e.g. Parkyn et al. 2003); however, many are small, fragmented and degraded (e.g. Norton and Miller, 2000). Their establishment can result in reduced farm productivity, and significant maintenance costs (e.g. Rhodes et al. 2002). Countries with neo-liberal political systems rely on farmers to voluntarily plant networks and supporters argue farmers are the landowners and decision makers regarding landscape change. However, little is know about farmer attitudes and behaviours regarding network restoration, or the effectiveness of voluntary policies (Edling 2003). Using New Zealand dairy farms as a case study, a questionnaire determines what, where and why farmers plant, and the effectiveness of voluntary policy approaches. Preliminary results indicate many farmers have removed components, such as shelterbelts, and are planting relatively small riparian and wetland areas to provide public ecosystem services such as water cleansing and nature conservation. However, many are not planting due to a lack of sufficient private ecosystem services. Few farmers take advantage of government incentive programs. While half indicate sufficient incentives would motivate them to plant, the other half indicate incentives would not influence their decision making. Recommendations for improved approaches for encouraging woody vegetation network retention and restoration are provided.