R. Sushak

Bio: R. Sushak is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Watershed & Watershed management. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 1 citations.

Using surveys as input to comprehensive watershed management: A case study from Minnesota. Forest Service general technical report

Abstract: Comprehensive watershed management, a new type of reosurce management now being implemented in southeastern Minnesota, recognizes that the watershed community and land managers can make choices that will result in a health watershed now and in the future. To succeed, such management needs four components: citizen participation, a comprehensive perspective, a long-term view, and partnership. In the following case study the authors focus on citizen participation and on the use of surveys to achieve it.

Public support for ecosystem restoration in the Hudson River Valley, USA.

Abstract: We applied the Theory of Planned Behavior to help understand the relationships between environmental beliefs, support for ecosystem restoration actions, and willingness to pay (WTP) for restoration and protection goals in the Hudson River estuary, New York State, USA. We conducted a mail survey with 3,000 randomly-chosen local residents of the Hudson River estuary in the fall of 1999. As hypothesized, the broad ecosystem restoration goals of the Hudson River Estuary Action Plan were more strongly supported than the corresponding specific implementation actions. We found that beliefs and past behavior were better explanatory variables than sociodemographic characteristics for explaining people's support for ecosystem restoration actions and WTP for restoration and protection goals. Because ecosystem restoration goals appear to be more generally acceptable than specific restoration actions, proponents of restoration programs should not become complacent about the need for active public outreach and involvement even if initial restoration program discussions have been low in controversy. Efforts to assess and foster support for ecosystem restoration should be targeted toward audiences identified on the basis of beliefs and past behaviors rather than on sociodemographic characteristics.