Survey of Rancher Opinions about Wildlife and Jaguar Habitat Management

1018-Jaguar rancher survey final clean 8_7_14

Survey of Rancher Opinions about Wildlife and Jaguar Habitat Management

OMB: 1018-0157

Document [docx]

Download: docx | pdf

OMB Control No. 1018-XXXX

Expiration Date: XX/XX/2017

SURVEY OF RANCHER OPINIONS ABOUT

WILDLIFE AND JAGUAR HABITAT MANAGEMENT

Section One: Background

1. Are you or your family actively ranching in southern Arizona or southwestern New Mexico at this time?

2. Where do you graze your animals? Please mark all that apply:

Private land
BLM allotments
U.S. Forest Service allotments
AZ or NM State Trust Land
Other: __________________________________________________________

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501), please note the following information. This survey is authorized by the Endangered Species Act. The information that you provide will be used to evaluate the practicality of a payment for ecosystem services program for the benefit of jaguar habitat in southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. It will also aid in the implementation of jaguar habitat conservation efforts by increasing our knowledge of landowner, rancher, and ranch manager attitudes toward jaguars and jaguar habitat management. It is our policy not to use your name for any other purpose. All names and identifying information will be removed when we compile the results, and only summary information will be reported. Your response is voluntary. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to an information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. We estimate that it will take you about 30 minutes to read the instructions and complete the survey. You may send comments on any aspect of this information collection to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1849 C Street, NW (Mail Stop 2042-PDM), Washington D.C. 20240.

Section Two: Range Management

3. What management practices are you currently implementing on your ranch? Please check all that apply:

Grazing management plan
Drought management plan
Range monitoring
Weed/brush management
Invasive species management
Prescribed burning
Stream fencing
Stock/wildlife ponds or tanks
Rotational grazing
Access control/animal exclusion
Native grassland restoration
Erosion control structures
Wildlife friendly fencing
Other:___________________
Other:___________________
Other:___________________
Other:___________________

4. Do you currently implement management practices on your ranch specifically for the benefit of wildlife? (These management practices may also benefit range health and other aspects of your operation, but in this question we are only interested in management practices you have decided to implement because of their benefit for wildlife.)

Yes
No
I have in the past, but do not currently
I haven’t in the past, but I am interested

5. Management practices that generally improve wildlife habitat may also benefit jaguars. Would you be more likely or less likely to implement wildlife habitat improvement projects if they may increase the chance of a jaguar living on or passing through your ranch?

1 2 3 4 5

Much Less Somewhat Neutral Somewhat Much More Likely

Likely Less Likely More Likely

Comments:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Section Three: Jaguar Habitat in Southern Arizona and Southwestern New Mexico

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently designated critical habitat for jaguar in southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Areas so designated are considered essential to the conservation of the jaguar and may need special management or protection. While areas designated as critical habitat for jaguars may be on private land, such designations affect only Federal agency actions or federally funded or permitted activities. A map of the critical habitat area is attached to this survey.

6. Is any part of your ranch (either private or public lands) located within designated jaguar critical habitat?

Not Sure

7. What types of effects do you think designation of jaguar critical habitat will have on your operation?

Operation costs

1 2 3 4 5

Large Decrease Small Decrease No Effect Small Increase Large Increase

Grazing permit renewal

1 2 3 4 5

Much Less Somewhat No Effect Somewhat Much More Difficult

Difficult Less Difficult More Difficult

Permitted Animal Unit Months

1 2 3 4 5

Large Decrease Small Decrease No Effect Small Increase Large Increase

Tourism opportunities

1 2 3 4 5

Large Decrease Small Decrease No Effect Small Increase Large Increase

Conservation funding opportunities

1 2 3 4 5

Large Decrease Small Decrease No Effect Small Increase Large Increase

Livestock depredation

1 2 3 4 5

Large Decrease Small Decrease No Effect Small Increase Large Increase

Overall range management

1 2 3 4 5

Negative Somewhat Negative No effect Somewhat Positive Positive

Ability to sell or lease my land

1 2 3 4 5

Much Easier Somewhat No effect Somewhat Much Harder

Easier Harder

Government involvement in my operation

1 2 3 4 5

Large Decrease Small Decrease No Effect Small Increase Large Increase

8. If you think any of the effects listed above will have a negative impact on your operation, which do you think will have the most negative impact (list up to three significant negative effects)? [Note: When we distribute the survey to ranchers, we will vary the order of appearance so some will be asked about positive impacts first and negative impacts second while others will receive the opposite order.]

1. ________________________________________

2. ________________________________________

3. ________________________________________

If you think any of the effects listed above will have a positive impact on your operation, which do you think will have the most positive impact

1. ________________________________________

2. ________________________________________

3. ________________________________________

9. Do you think jaguars have ever permanently resided in Arizona or New Mexico?

Yes, I think there was at one time a native jaguar population in the Southwest
Maybe, there isn’t enough information to know if there was a native jaguar population
No, jaguars passed through Arizona and New Mexico, but were not native
I don’t know

10. Do you think jaguars permanently reside in Arizona or New Mexico today?

Yes, I think there are jaguars that live full time in Arizona or New Mexico.
Maybe, I don’t know if there is a permanent jaguar population
No, jaguars photographed in Arizona and New Mexico over the past two decades are not permanent residents
I don’t know

11. Based on your knowledge of jaguars, do you think there is jaguar habitat in southern Arizona or southwestern New Mexico that is important for preventing jaguars from going extinct?

Why?:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. Do you support or not support management of public and private lands in southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico for jaguar habitat?

1 2 3 4 5

Strongly Don’t Support Neutral Support Strongly Support

Don’t Support

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. If jaguars were not designated as an endangered species by the U.S. Federal Government, would your support for management of public and private lands for jaguar habitat in southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico change?

1 2 3 4 5

Large Decrease Small Decrease No Effect Small Increase Large Increase

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

Section Four: Conservation Incentives

Conservation incentive programs are designed to encourage conservation and good land management by paying landowners to install and maintain certain management practices. This section will ask questions about whether or not you participate in incentive programs and your interest in participating in new programs that may be developed in the future.

14. Please tell us which Farm Bill Conservation Programs you are currently participating in or have participated in in the past:

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP)
Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRLPP)
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
Other: _________________________________

15. We would like to know your level of interest in conservation incentive programs and what types of programs would be most attractive to you and your ranch’s business plan. Listed below are several common incentive approaches. Please tell us how likely you are to participate in each type of approach:

a) Cost-Share: Incentive cost-share payments for implementation of conservation practices, similar to Farm Bill programs like EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) and WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program).

1 2 3 4 5

Not Interested Probably Not Neutral Probably Very Interested

Interested Interested

b) Management Incentives: Incentive payments similar to Farm Bill programs, but that do not require you to provide a cost-share. The full cost of conservation practices is paid and you are not responsible for any of the cost.

1 2 3 4 5

Not Interested Probably Not Neutral Probably Very Interested

Interested Interested

c) Conservation Contracts with Annual Payments: Incentive payments, including ongoing per-acre “rental payments,” to implement a management plan for the benefit of wildlife on all or a portion of your ranch for a specific period of time. Typically, to compensate for participation in the program, you will receive an initial payment at the time of sign-up and annual “rental” payments based on acreage enrolled. You retain ownership and control of your land. The management agreement is not permanent, but does require a minimum commitment period; e.g., 20 years. The value of the rental payment and the length of the contract may be based on negotiation between you and the “renter,” the rental value of the land for other uses, or habitat quality.

1 2 3 4 5

Not Interested Probably Not Neutral Probably Very Interested

Interested Interested

d) Credit Markets: Some conservation incentive programs pay landowners based on how much of something they provide. These programs allow you to generate “credits” that you can sell like a commodity. For example, you implement a management practice that results in gains in wildlife habitat. The amount of habitat is measured and you are given credits for the amount of habitat created. You can then sell these credits to a buyer who wants to invest in this type of habitat. The buyer may be a private citizen, foundation interested in conservation, or a government agency that wants to provide incentives to private landowners for conservation. The value of the credit is determined through a negotiation between you and the buyer. Credit programs generally require a long-term commitment from the landowner to maintain the habitat through a contract or permanent conservation easement.

1 2 3 4 5

Not Interested Probably Not Neutral Probably Very Interested

Interested Interested

e) Thinking about the four options presented above, please rank your interest in each program from highest to lowest. Place a “1” in the box next to your preferred option, a “2” next to your second choice, a “3” next to your third choice, and a “4” next to the choice you are least interested in.

Cost-Share Programs: similar to EQIP

Management Incentives: A program that pays the full cost of management practices, but nothing more
Conservation Contracts: A program that pays for implementation of a management plan, plus a yearly payment based on the number of acres enrolled
Credit Markets: A program that pays you based on the number of credits generated on your ranch, such as carbon credits

16. Based on what you understand about the conservation incentive programs described above, are you interested in learning more about how these programs work?

17. If you knew that participation in a conservation incentives program would require you to make management changes that would improve habitat for federally-designated endangered or threatened species on your ranch, how would your interest in participation change?

1 2 3 4 5

Much Less Somewhat No effect Somewhat Much More

Interested Less Interested More Interested Interested

18a. Some conservation incentive programs, such as Farm Bill programs, are funded by the Federal Government. Programs funded by Federal dollars must comply with Federal environmental laws, including the Endangered Species Act. If you knew a conservation incentives program was federally funded, would you be more or less likely to participate?

1 2 3 4 5

Much Less Somewhat Neutral Somewhat Much More Likely

Likely Less Likely More Likely

18b. A Safe Harbor Agreement is an agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a private landowner. Safe Harbor Agreements allow you to implement wildlife management practices with assurances from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that you will not be subject to new land use restrictions if an endangered species begins to use your land. When a Safe Harbor Agreement is established, an inventory of endangered species is conducted before you implement any new management practices. In the future, you are allowed to return your land to the same status as existed at the time of the inventory, even if it harms endangered species that have arrived on your ranch during the period you were managing for wildlife habitat. If the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service signed a Safe Harbor Agreement with you as part of your participation in a conservation incentives program, would your willingness to participate in a federally funded conservation incentives program change?

My opinion is unchanged
I’m more interested
I’m less interested

18c. Private foundations, public donations, and other sources have also been used to finance conservation incentive programs using non-Federal dollars. If you knew a conservation incentive program was 100% privately funded, would you be more likely or less likely to participate than in a federally funded program?

1 2 3 4 5

Much Less Somewhat Neutral Somewhat Much More Likely

Likely Less Likely More Likely

19. What factors might prevent you from participating in a conservation incentive program, if any? Please check all that apply:

I don’t need incentives for management
Land use/Permit restrictions
Too complicated
Not interested
Doesn’t fit my business plan
Increased risk of having endangered species on my ranch
Limits management flexibility
Don’t know enough about how it works
Other:_______________________

20. Whom would you trust to manage a conservation incentive program in southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico? Mark all that apply:

Arizona Game and Fish
New Mexico Game and Fish
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Regional natural resources conservation districts (e.g., Whitewater Draw NRCD)
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
New Mexico State Cooperative Extension
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Forest Service
Bureau of Land Management
Regional land trust (e.g., Arizona Land and Water Trust)
Conservation organization (e.g., The Nature Conservancy)
County government
Other: _____________________________

Section Five: Depredation

21. How concerned are you about depredation by mountain lions on your operation?

Not Concerned
Somewhat Concerned
Very Concerned

22. How concerned are you about depredation by jaguars on your operation?

Not Concerned
Somewhat Concerned
Very Concerned

23a. Over the last 10 years, how many animals have you lost to depredation by mountain lions?

Number: ________________________________________

23b. Over the last 10 years, how many animals have you lost to depredation by jaguars?

Number: ________________________________________

24. What management practices have you implemented in response to depredation by mountain lions or jaguars? Write “none” if applicable.

Management Practices: __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

25. What effect do you think designation of critical habitat for jaguar will have on depredation on your ranch?

Large increase
Small increase
No impact
Small decrease
Large decrease

Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

26. What types of assistance to reduce the impacts of depredation would you be interested in? Please mark all that apply:

Workshops about depredation management
Pamphlets/reports about depredation management
Advice from University Extension agents
Advice from fellow ranchers
Technical assistance from Extension agents
Technical assistance from NRCDs
Technical assistance from NRCS
Cost-share funding for management from NRCS
Non-Federal funding assistance for management
Compensation fund to pay for cattle losses
Other: _______________________________________________
Other: _______________________________________________

27. Would assistance with depredation issues change your interest in participating in a conservation incentive program that benefits jaguar habitat?

1 2 3 4 5

Much Less Somewhat No effect Somewhat Much More

Interested Less Interested More Interested Interested

Section Six: Demographic Info (optional)

28. How old are you?

Younger than 20
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60 or Older

29. How long have you been managing your current operation?

Less than 1 year
1-9 years
10-20 years
21-40 years
41-60 years
Over 60 years

30. How long has your family been ranching?

Less than 1 year
1-9 years
10-24 years
25-49 years
50-75 years
Over 75 years

30. On average, how large is your operation?

Less than 50 head of cattle
50-100 head of cattle
101-300 head of cattle
301-500 head of cattle
More than 500 head of cattle

31. On average, what portion of household income typically comes from your ranching activities in a given year?

Less than 10%
10-49%
50-75%
76-100%

To ensure the anonymity of responses, we ask that you do not write your name or address on this survey.

We do, however, ask that you create an anonymous identity code that only you will know. Please write your code in the blank spaces below. This code will allow us to track and analyze the results of this survey without associating responses with personally identifiable information. Again, we will never associate your responses with your name, address, or other identifying information. Only you will know your anonymous identity code. If you would prefer not to create a code, please skip this step. Even if you do not create an identity code your opinions are essential to the success of our research.

To create your code, please list the first two letters of your mother’s or guardian’s first name (e.g., Mary becomes MA) followed by the day of the month you were born (e.g., if you were born on June 3, your number is 03). For this example, the ID code is MA03. Please print your identity code:

PLEASE PRINT YOUR ID CODE HERE: ____ ____ ____ ____

In the future, we may conduct other surveys and will ask you to use this code so we can track your responses over time without the use and retention of any personally identifiable information. We are committed to protecting your privacy. Responding to this survey, and creating an anonymous identity code, does not commit you to respond to a future survey.

File Type	application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
Author	Aaron M Lien
File Modified	0000-00-00
File Created	2021-01-27