Ecosystem management and landowner concern about regulations: A case studyin the Missouri Ozarks

This article examines sociopolitical dimensions of ecosystem management thr ough a case study of the Brush Creek EARTH Project, a watershed program in southcentral Missouri. Data were collected through person-to-person structu red interviews during the summer of 1997. We investigate factors, particula rly the role of trust and efficacy, related to landowner concern that parti cipation in voluntary ecosystem management programs will lead to future reg ulations of their land use. Many landowners were concerned that participati on in the Brush Creek EARTH Project would make them vulnerable to future re gulations of their land use. Landowners who were more trusting of the agenc ies involved in ecosystem management were less likely to be concerned that participation would lead to future regulations. The implications of this st udy are that the sociopolitical dimensions need to be addressed in ecosyste m management, and that specific attention needs to be given to developing t rusting relationships with stakeholders.