5. Recommendations and conclusions
Overall, each of the programs appealed to respondents’ moti-
vations and minimised their barriers to participation. While this
point may seem obvious given that the respondents had partici-
pated in their respective programs, several recommendations on
policy instrument choice for biodiversity conservation programs
can nevertheless be provided.
Voluntary instruments appeal to non-production landholders
who have an intention to conserve vegetation and/or who do not
rely on the land to produce an income. These instruments can
therefore be useful in the implementation of perpetual conserva-
tion covenants because these landholders typically have an interest
in long-term conservation and do not have to balance conservation
and production interests. Voluntary programs may still need to
provide assistance (e.g., environmental education, support for
weed and erosion control) to landholders to improve their land
management practices and generate positive long-term environ-
mental outcomes.
Market-based economic instruments should be used, wherever
possible, when there is a commitment to conservation by the
landholders and programadministrators, and sufficient funding for
an adequate duration to achieve a high degree of additionality.
Programs that achieve high additionality ensure that the partici-
pants are accountable for public money; that is, some additional
public benefit has been provided through their participation (Carey
et al., 2003). Price-based economic instruments, such as rate rebates,
should be used to stimulate participation in perpetual programs.
Used as an incentive for perpetual agreements, these instruments
can reduce transaction costs of contract renewal and renegotiation.
Outcomes-based payment programs may be best suited to