State wetland protection: A matter of context?

Models of integrated management emphasize the role of the surrounding socio economic and political environment in influencing management choices for na tural resources. In this study, we explore a model that examines the influe nce of socioeconomic and political variables on the wetland management prog rams of U.S. states. Logistic regression was used to identify environmental , socioeconomic, and political variables that explained variation in state wetland programs. The likelihood of strong planning, nonregulatory, regulat ory, and overall programs increases as the importance of fisheries in the s tate increases (p < 0.05), but decreases as population density increases (p < 0.15). Furthermore, there is an increasing likelihood of stronger regula tory and overall programs as environmental group activity and industry impo rtance increases (p < 0.05). These findings provide empirical evidence to s upport the contention that management approaches used in one state often mu st be adapted to fit the realities of another given state.