3.3.4. Future options
Program conditions were perceived to represent a threat to
landholders’ property rights and their future land use options. Some
respondents did not commit all of their property to the conservation
program because they wanted to keep their options open for
potential future development or changed land use. This point of view
was particularly true for non-production respondents in the Casso-
wary Coast and Nature Refuge programs who had committed to
perpetual agreements but wanted to maintain the option to use the
land to produce an income, “there had to be something other than
just land for conservation” (NR35-NP). Another respondent wanted
the right to “use the cattle to keep the weeds down because cattle
are the best way to keep sensitive weeds and grass down” (CC7-NP).
Production respondents were concerned about potential changes to
their property rights at a later date:
“the more viable land we lock up, the less earnings or capabil-
ities we have. You have to be a little bit careful because they can
change the rules and the goal posts. You would hate to have all
your eggs in one basket and have a change in government, you
never know where you’d end up” (NR39-p).