Developing a best practice framework for the Maryland agricultural land preservation foundation: Why don’t conservation professionals use optimization?
Date
2010
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
In the state of Maryland, government agencies charged with preserving agricultural land traditionally employ a rank-based selection process that ignores opportunities to acquire low-cost, high-benefit parcels. The potential benefit of applying an optimization method to these selection processes has been established in the literature but not recognized in practice. This study examines the methods currently in use by Maryland‘s counties in selecting parcels for preservation. It then identifies obstacles to adoption of optimization methods and, using a two-part survey instrument, examines the effect of an educational presentation about optimization on administrators‘ willingness to adopt it. Administrators put a high value on the fairness and transparency of the selection process. Parcel costs are rarely part of the calculation so funds may be used inefficiently. The survey results indicate that a better understanding of optimization increases willingness to adopt it and decreases predicted difficulties with adoption. Also, administrators in metro areas are more willing to consider optimization methods than those in more rural areas. The study shows that lack of experience with optimization, the initial technical investment required to use it, and a lack of incentive to change selection methods are the main obstacles that influence these decisions.