Abstract
A nationwide consensus exists among informed scientists that our wetland resources are being destroyed at an alarming rate, but little consensus exists as to what should be done to abate this trend. Even at the state level, agreement as to how to proceed or as to the success of past protection efforts has not been forthcoming. A brief review of past and present wetland programs in the Prairie Pothole Region and a summary of the findings of landowner attitude studies in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota provide the premise for suggesting viable pothole protection mechanisms. Income tax incentives, long-term easements, and voluntary compliance are each shown to be infeasible for adequately protecting Prairie Potholes. Cross-compliance with government farm programs, fee title acquisition, and private sector market mechanisms offer the greatest chance for successful protection of this valuable natural resource.
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Leitch, J.A. Policies for Prairie wetland protection. Wetlands 4, 13–17 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160483
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160483