1. Andrea Watson, MS
October 21, 2016
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY’S
ELLSWORTH CREEK PRESERVE:
A REPORT ON THE SOCIOECONOMIC
IMPACTS OF A HABITAT RESTORATION
AND CONSERVATION PROJECT IN
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON STATE
2. 1
Table of Contents
I. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..1
Background
Project Description and Strategy
II. Methods……………………………………………………………………………………3
Semi-structured Interviews and Survey Questionnaires
Topical Focus
Sample Characteristics
Quasi-Experimental Hedonic Modeling
Potential Limitations and Biases
III. Results…………………………………………………………………………………..…7
IV. Discussion, Recommendations, and Conclusions…………………………..……………12
Discussion
Recommendations
Conclusions
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………………....17
Figures……………………………………………………………………………………………18
Tables…………………………………………………………………………………………….19
References………………………………………………………………………………..………21
I. Introduction
Background
In 2001 The Nature Conservancy (TNC), purchased 7,600 acres of the Ellsworth Creek
watershed in Pacific County, Washington State and established the Ellsworth Creek Preserve
(ECP). The preserve’s purpose was, and continues to be, to provide a secure area for the
protection of remaining old growth forest and the restoration of watershed habitat (The Nature
Conservancy 2012). Although the ECP has been largely successful in fulfilling its purpose, the
local socioeconomic impacts resulting from this project have been unclear. This research was
completed as a part of a Master’s of Science in Resource Management degree at Central
Washington University, and aimed to provide a broad understanding of how and why community
opinions and perceptions of the ECP and TNC were formed, why they persist, and what
particular impacts local people have experienced as a result of the establishment and continued
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presence of the ECP. A multi-method, community based approach was used in order to ensure
that local perspectives were accurately understood and represented (Watson 2015).
The ECP is located in the southwestern corner of Washington State on Willapa Bay, directly
above the mouth of the Columbia River and within Pacific County (Figures 1 and 2). The Bay’s
ecosystem includes large swaths of upland temperate forests and shallow estuarine areas where
fresh and salt waters mix (Wolf 1993). Oysters and marine species such as salmon, crab, and
clams are abundant, and the harvest and export of these and other natural resources are important
local economic drivers (Willapa Harbor Chamber of Commerce 2012). Historically, Native
Americans, now known as the Chinook, utilized these resources and developed a rich cultural
heritage which continues to this day in conjunction with that of the settled Euro-American
population (Chinook Indian Nation 2013).
Despite the natural bounty of Willapa Bay, the area has experienced economic difficulties,
including high unemployment and a low average median wage compared to the rest of
Washington State (Employment Security Department 2014). This is in large part because many
of the once profitable, natural resource-based local industries have waned due to resource
overharvesting and unsustainable practices (Bureau of Labor Statistics 2012). The remaining old
growth forests and marine resources, however, have attracted environmental non-governmental
organizations (ENGOs) aiming to protect Willapa Bay from further degradation by purchasing
land for conservation and restoration purposes.
Project Description and Strategy
The overall aim of this case study was to address the lack of information that was available
regarding the socioeconomic impacts resulting from the establishment and continued presence of
the ECP in Pacific County. The creation of a large scale, privately owned environmental project
may have influenced local socioeconomic factors, and the goal of this research was to understand
how local peoples’ perceptions of TNC, and of environmental projects and conservation in
general, may have been affected by the preserve. This study assessed the impacts of the ECP
through a multi-method, community-based approach consisting of:
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semi-structured, in-depth interviews,
survey questionnaires, and
a quasi-experimental hedonic modeling of house prices.
The results of these separate approaches were triangulated. Methodological triangulation is a
process by which a researcher verifies a finding by demonstrating that independent measures of
this finding agree with one another (Meijer et al. 2002:146). The triangulation of the results of
this research aims to develop a more comprehensive view of socioeconomic impacts resulting
from the Ellsworth Creek Preserve within Pacific County, Washington.
II. Methods
Semi-structured Interviews and Survey Questionnaires
Semi-structured interviews obtain valuable participant knowledge that would not be gained by
only asking questions with primarily fixed-choice options (Huntington 2000:1271). Such
interviews consist of open-ended, non-leading questions concerning specific research topics of
interest. They also allow key participants (KPs) to respond through a general line of discussion
or to focus on and share particular areas of experience they consider important regarding the
interview subject matter (Sewell 1949:721). This method is especially relevant for acquiring new
information (as contrasted to confirming or rejecting previously reported data) because it does
not assume researchers are aware of all relevant questions and topics in the local setting, and it
allows study participants themselves to define relevant domains of knowledge and issues.
However, a fixed-choice survey questionnaire developed based on information gathered from
semi-structured interviews, allowed for the compilation of data from a larger and broader sample
of respondents, as completing the survey instrument required less of a time commitment from
participant. Therefore, more individuals were willing to participate, and I was able to administer
more survey questionnaires within a given time frame. Referral sampling, a non-probability
sampling technique wherein initial participants provide further contacts, was used due to the
limited public information available about the preserve (Bernard 2011:147). Interview and
survey participants did not overlap.
5. 4
Topical Focus
Semi-structured interviews provided insight into what impacts (positive or negative) may have
resulted from the ECP’s establishment, as well as community attitudes toward the ECP and TNC.
TNC staff and KPs were interviewed using separate, although similar, interview questions due to
the differing knowledge, experience, and expertise of each group. Interview data was analyzed
using thematic analysis. Interviews included questions about the following topics:
1. participant’s general knowledge of and opinions about the ECP and TNC,
2. perceived impacts,
3. the effectiveness of TNC’s communication practices, and
4. recommendations to for future conservation projects.
The survey questionnaire was comprised of thirty four questions overall;
twenty two were fixed-choice in type,
five were scale or ranking questions,
seven questions were completely or partially open-ended, and
participants were asked their occupation and place of residence to provide basic
demographic information.
Survey questionnaires were used to obtain quantitative data about:
1. public use of and access to the ECP,
2. impacts resulting from the ECP’s establishment and presence,
3. the communication participants had received from TNC, and
4. their knowledge of TNC and the ECP’s management.
Sample Characteristics
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve (N = 12) Key Participants (KP). Three
KPs were female and nine were male. KPs were individuals known to have personal knowledge
of and experience with the ECP and TNC, and who also had deep community ties and an
understanding of local perceptions and opinions regarding conservation. They included:
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TNC staff members involved in the ECP’s management,
current and former holders of local/regional political office,
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge employees, and
other prominent community members.
Thirty four (N = 34) survey questionnaires were completed. Twenty-three survey participants
(SP) were male, and 11 were female. SPs resided in a variety of locations in and near Pacific
County. Those residing outside of Pacific County were contacted due to their familiarity with the
ECP and TNC. Survey questionnaires were administered in person so that additional information
regarding participants’ perceptions and attitudes towards, as well as knowledge of TNC and the
ECP could be obtained through conversation and recorded in written form. This also allowed
participants to ask questions about the survey instrument, or to make any comments about the
questions asked within the survey.
Quasi-Experimental Hedonic Modeling
A quasi-experimental hedonic modeling of house prices within Pacific County, Washington was
completed to further explore the potential economic impacts of the ECP specifically. Hedonic
regression analysis is a statistically robust methodology for determining correlative relationships
over time (Monson 2009:63). Environmental factors, such as the proximity of a nature preserve,
affect what buyers are willing to pay for a house (Parmeter and Pope 2009:5). The modeling
therefore analyzed whether the establishment of the ECP correlated to changes in house prices in
Pacific County. The results do not imply that the creation of areas like the ECP are inherently
positive or negative, but provide an initial examination of possible economic impacts. The
regression equation used was based on Parmeter and Pope’s “Quasi-Experiments and Hedonic
Property Value Methods” (2009):
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Stata, a data analysis and statistical program, was used to run this regression based on a data set
including 2,079 observations. The variables encompassed in this equation were:
distance of the house from the preserve in kilometers,
property acreage, age of the house,
age of the house squared, and
the square footage of the house.
Census block (δj), and month and year (αt) fixed effects were used, meaning that multiple
observations about each property were collected and included in the data analysis in order to
remove most of the potential effects of omitted variable bias (Table 1). Only houses for which
the data reported were between 0 and 120 years old and valued between $30,000 and $500,000
were included to avoid any potential outliers that could have impacted the results (Table 2).
Potential Limitations and Biases
It is important to make note of limitations and biases that may be present in this study. Referral
sampling is a non-probability sampling technique, and many SPs were familiar with the ECP and
TNC through their professional employment and may have received information about the
preserve not provided to the general public. There is a possibility of sample selection bias in the
quasi-experimental modeling data due to the potential presence of certain factors that can cause a
property to be sold or bought at higher rates or values than others. This model also cannot
account for interest rates or taxation, which may limit the abilities of buyers to their preferred
houses. Although the data used in this hedonic regression analysis was cleaned to eliminate
outliers and other confounding factors, it is not possible to completely ensure that all sales
included in the data are single family arm’s length sales (i.e. not gifted or sold to family
members).
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III. Results
Semi-structured Interview Results
Interview data was analyzed using thematic analysis. This is a process by which patterns in the
data associated with a particular research question are identified, examined, and used as
categories for analysis. Four themes were identified from TNC staff member interviews:
1. the importance of community relationships and public communication,
2. outreach and education using the ECP,
3. the perceived positive benefits of hiring local contractors, and
4. the ECP as an economically self-sustaining and long term project.
Five themes were identified from KP interviews:
1. the power of the individual in influencing public perceptions,
2. geography, local politics, and attitudes towards environmental projects,
3. economic impacts resulting from the ECP,
4. the importance of accessibility and respecting local traditions, and
5. the need for local, community-based involvement in environmental decision making.
Prioritizing open communication was important to both KP and TNC participant groups. Early
communication between Willapa Bay residents and TNC staff, prior to the establishment of the
ECP, may have negatively influenced local perceptions of the organization. One KP stated that a
previous TNC staff member had treated residents as “ignorant hicks” (interview October 9th,
2013), and this behavior was considered to have been a key factor in inciting a lack of public
trust in TNC. The recognition of the importance of communication, particularly on the part of
subsequent TNC staff, highlights that approaching conservation projects from a purely scientific
standpoint can alienate and frustrate community members. This viewpoint is substantiated by
other case studies from around the world (Gruber 2010:8; McLain and Jones 1997:4; Conley and
Moote 2003; Kellert 2000; Pahl-Wostl 2007). Although not all KPs believed that TNC as an
organization has improved in regards to communications, most KPs stated that current TNC staff
had positively influenced perceptions of TNC through community presence, a willingness to
speak with the community when sought out, and professionalism.
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Further, Pacific County is a politically divided county, and political allegiances follow a
geographic north-south boundary. As one KP, a current Pacific County Commissioner, stated,
“our politics are so divisive right now . . . you’re either on one side of the fence or the other,”
and that in Pacific County “you’re either for conservation, or it’s a tax issue and you’re
absolutely against it” (interview September 12, 2013). The geographic division of sociopolitical
ideals within Pacific County highlights the importance of developing an understanding of the
area in which conservation actions are implemented.
Despite agreement on the importance of communication, opinions regarding other factors
differed dramatically between TNC staff and KPs. KPs expressed concern about perceived
economic impacts resulting from the ECP, specifically a loss of tax revenue for Pacific County.
In addition to being frustrated with the lack of tax revenue being generated by conservation
projects in comparison to tax revenue generated by timberlands, KPs noted that many Pacific
County residents believe that non-governmental and environmental organizations pay no taxes at
all on the land they own. Study participants that were not familiar with current TNC staff also
had little to no knowledge of the timber that is taken from within the ECP and sold in order to
financially support TNC’s restoration activities.
In contrast, TNC staff participants reported that the ECP has positively affected the county’s
economy through the employment of local contractors and production of commercially sold
timber from within the preserve. Due to TNC’s development of a durable and environmentally
sustainable road system within the ECP, created by the labor of local contract workers, logging
in the preserve is feasible almost all year round. Therefore, TNC is often able to employ
contractors through times when work in the area is difficult to find (TNC staff member,
interview June 13, 2013). This viewpoint, however, did not entirely align with that of a
contractor spoken to over the course of this research whose company had been contracted to
work within the preserve, and whose opinion will be further discussed in the following section
(Survey Questionnaire Results).
KPs emphasized the need for maintaining public access to the ECP and for a more community-
based approach to the ECP’s management. Several KPs stated that they did not know the current
status of preserve access, but hypothesized that the preserve is not accessible to the public in any
way. This may suggest that there is a distinct lack of public information regarding the ECP’s
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public accessibility, and that this lack of information has led to incorrect assumptions. KP’s were
frustrated by this assumed access restriction, stating it disregarded local history and tradition.
KPs that were members of the Chinook Indian Nation in particular perceived access and use
restriction to areas of historic Native use to be a misguided strategy for land management
In contrast, TNC staff did not stress accessibility as a factor of particular concern. This may have
been influenced by the fact that KPs who were familiar with TNC staff and aware of current
preserve accessibility were generally satisfied with the walk-in only access, and therefore the
extent of community frustration with the current accessibility has not been fully communicated
to TNC. These KPs also cited the walk-in only access with preventing issues such as “dumping
garbage, or doing things that are maybe not in the long term very harmful, but disrespectful if
nothing else” (KP 7, interview September 8, 2013). However, it was clear that many study
participants were unhappy with the ECP’s accessibility, as it does not allow them to perform
certain recreational activities, such as hunting, in the manner they would prefer.
TNC staff members were also of the opinion that the ECP is community inclusive due to TNC’s
use of local contractors and because of educational activities that are offered within the preserve.
These educational activities generally have involved students from urban centers. Seattle
University, Oregon State University, Pacific University, and Evergreen College (Figure 2) have
all had students volunteer or complete field work within the ECP (TNC Staff interview June 13,
2013). A group called the Leaf Crew from the city of Tacoma, Washington was invited to visit
the ECP, which TNC staff believed would foster an interest in nature in a populace with
relatively little day to day exposure to a natural environment, such as that found within the
preserve (TNC Staff interview June 27, 2013).
KPs, however, had little awareness of these activities and some were of the opinion that
educational programs in particular should be offered at a more local level. One KP was of the
opinion that TNC’s attempts to involve students should be aimed locally in order to foster more
stewardship and support in the community where the ECP is actually located. For example, they
would like to “see [TNC] go into the high school with some sort of career based program that
would get people involved at the grassroots level” (interview October 9th, 2013). In contrast to
the positive opinion that TNC staff shared regarding student involvement, the lack of locally
focused outreach is still noticed by community members.
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Survey Questionnaire Results
Univariate and bivariate data analysis techniques were used to analyze survey questionnaire data.
It is important to note that correlation results can only be used to suggest potential linkages in the
data, and do not imply causation. In person discussion with survey participants (SPs) was used
to contextualize the quantitative data and provide additional insight into how and why
participants chose their specific responses to the fixed-choice survey questions. The five
following themes represent the major issues that were identified:
1. Significance of TNC’s communication regarding the establishment of the ECP,
2. the ECP’s economic impacts on Pacific County,
3. opinions regarding the ECP’s current accessibility,
4. public knowledge about and interest in the ECP, and
5. perceptions of the ECP and similar projects.
Due to the larger number of and greater variation among participants, survey questionnaire
results revealed community opinions that were not apparent through interview data. Both SPs
and KPs reported that communication from TNC regarding the preserve has been poor overall.
However, survey questionnaire data demonstrated that most SPs had received much of their
knowledge about TNC and the preserve through other community members. TNC staff
participants believed that unofficial dissemination of information through informal conversation
and word of mouth about the ECP can be effective and positive, particularly when there is often
limited time and resources for project staff to dedicate to public communication. (Kellert
2000:713; Leach et al. 1999:240). However, a majority of SPs indicated that they would rather
receive direct communication from TNC. This suggests that there is a strong public desire in
southwestern Washington for natural resource managers to engage with local communities.
Economic impacts, and particularly the perceived loss of Pacific County tax revenue, were
another primary concern for SPs. One SP, a contractor who had been hired by TNC to work
within the ECP, stated that contracting for TNC was not cost effective or particularly lucrative
due to the complex timber harvesting techniques that must often be used in the preserve. This
viewpoint contradicts TNC staff perceptions’ that TNC’s employment of local contractors has
been a benefit to the local economy. The public perceptions of the economic impacts resulting
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from the ECP highlight how local measures of a project’s viability can differ greatly from those
of the ENGO or project owner.
SPs stressed that public access to the ECP is very valuable to community members. Some SPs
stated that the current lack of vehicle accessibility is distressing for elderly individuals, and those
unable to access the preserve on foot who want to continue to use the land for recreational
activities like hunting and fishing. Survey participants repeatedly mentioned that local people
were said to view themselves as ‘stewards of the natural landscape’, as many Pacific County
families have resided in the area for multiple generations. Access restrictions placed on land over
which they feel ownership and responsibility is therefore a source of considerable frustration.
SPs reported a general community interest in learning more about the ECP, but perceived
reluctance on the part of TNC staff to speak about the project. Some SPs believed that this was
because ENGO employees are prone to view rural people as scientifically uninformed and
environmentally destructive, which was another source of frustration.
Quasi-experimental Hedonic Modeling Results
The results of the regression analysis demonstrated that house prices tend to decrease overall as a
house’s distance from the preserve increases. A 1.96% decrease in value was observed for every
additional kilometer further away from the preserve a house is located, despite an overall
increase of 1.38% for every additional acre encompassed by the house’s associated property and
when all other factors were held constant (Table 1). These results can also be used as a way to
estimate the potential value of a house on the open market, and therefore demonstrate that houses
located further from the ECP’s borders could potentially sell for a lower price than houses
located closer to the borders of the preserve.
Buyers’ preferences could be significant factors in explaining the results of this modeling.
Hunting, fishing, and hiking, are popular pastimes in southwestern Washington State and a
house’s proximity to a large tract of publicly accessible forest land may be an incentive to pay a
higher price. Many survey participants had observed an increase in the number of individuals
from urban areas purchasing vacation homes around Willapa Bay, and attributed this to the
scenic nature of the area. These urban buyers might also be willing to pay more for a property
located close to a large nature preserve. The results of this modeling are consistent with those of
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other studies in demonstrating that the nature of the land use surrounding a property influences
price, and implies that people are sensitive to these factors when purchasing property
(Geoghegan et al. 1997:263).
IV. Discussion, Recommendations, and Conclusions
Discussion
This case study examined socioeconomic impacts resulting from the ECP, an environmental
conservation and restoration project managed and owned by TNC, and located in Pacific County,
in southwestern Washington State. The project goal was to use a multi-method approach to
provide insight into community perceptions that have developed since the EPC’s inception and
development.
As discussed in section IV: Results, the themes identified from TNC staff and KP interviews and
the survey questionnaire results demonstrated that there were both similarities and large
differences in the perceptions and opinions of TNC staff members and community members.
Responses between the two groups diverged widely on the topic of economics and the ECP. KPs
stated concerns about the economic impacts they believe to have resulted from the ECP, driven
by a perceived loss of tax revenue for Pacific County.
Conversely, TNC staff participants were of the opinion that the ECP has positively impacted the
county’s economy through the employment of local contractors and production of commercially
sold timber. These perceived benefits align with the ideals of neoliberal economic policy, namely
the privatization of conservation and the attribution of economic value to landscapes, which are
often attractive concepts for financially strained land managers (Heynen et al. 2007:10; McAfee
and Shapiro 2009:3, Vaccaro et al. 2013:258).
It is important to note that the majority of study participants were not aware of that TNC harvests
and sells timber from within the preserve, or of TNC’s long term goal to make the ECP
economically self-sustaining. TNC has used the preserve to showcase their innovative
‘experimental basin’ approach – subdividing the ECP into multiple areas and applying different
restoration and timber harvesting techniques throughout – to other forestry-based organizations
14. 13
and companies. Although local contractors report that it this approach is not particularly cost
effective, as previously discussed, sharing this management approach with the general public
could clarify some of the incorrect assumptions that have been made by those with no direct
knowledge of how the ECP is managed.
Maintaining public accessibility to the ECP, and to forestlands in general, is extremely important
to all community member participants. TNC staff participants, however, did not stress
accessibility as a factor of particular concern. This may be because conservation professionals
become normalized to publicly inaccessible projects (Igoe 2004:70). KP and TNC staff
participant responses also diverged on the topic of community involvement. TNC staff reported
that their utilization of local contractors and the educational activities offered within the preserve
were beneficial for and involved the community. However, community member responses on
this topic demonstrate there is public desire for TNC to implement a more community-based and
stakeholder inclusive approach to the ECP’s management. KP’s had little awareness of TNC’s
use of contractors or educational programs, and held a belief that educational programs in
particular should be offered at a more local level.
The results of the in-depth, semi-structured interviews substantiate differences in KP and TNC
staff participant viewpoints on TNC and the ECP, and confirm that these opinions and
perceptions are heavily influenced by their socioeconomic positions and experiences. However,
KPs and TNC staff did present similarities in opinions on certain topic points. The importance of
open communication between TNC staff and local residents, as well as community involvement
and outreach, were recognized by almost all participants to be issues that affect public attitudes
towards the preserve. TNC staff that participated in and supported this study made clear that they
understood the importance of local perspectives. This recognition aligns with a growing
realization among the public and in scientific communities that scientists can lack an
understanding of local sociocultural contexts, and therefore may make conservation and natural
resource management decisions that are regionally sub-optimal (Rhoads et al. 1999:298).
Socioeconomic impacts caused by projects such as the ECP are often difficult to quantify, and
have historically been ignored by project managers, particularly in the case of ENGO owned
areas (Chapin 2004:18). This may be due to various factors, such as a persistent belief among
many natural resource managers that the natural sciences are the only and ultimate authority on
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conservation, or simply because of budgetary restraints (Brockington 2002; Adams and Hutton
2007). In the case of the ECP, examining community perceptions about the project highlights
that local measures of a project’s success may differ greatly from those used by individuals
closely involved in managing the project.
It is also important to note that the long term nature of conservation is not often considered in
socioeconomic research, which typically explores issues synchronically due to the complexities
of long term studies and acquiring historical data (Gadgil, Berkes and Folke 1993:151). Despite
the potential difficulties, it is important to consider the lasting impacts that the actions of
environmental organizations. KPs repeatedly noted that TNC’s first representatives in Pacific
County were not effective at creating positive relationships with local people, created friction,
and influenced long lasting impressions that potentially hindered TNC’s ability to effectively
accomplish their some of their goals. Such impacts can be explored through the application of
research that allows for participants to bring up past issues and concerns retrospectively so that
the critical context needed to understand the perspective of a local community is incorporated.
Just as important, however, was the recognition of current TNC staff and their willingness to
speak with community members in a friendly manner and to share information when asked. This
demonstrates that although initial negative impressions can be lasting, they are not irreparable,
and that changes in organizational representation do not go unnoticed in rural communities.
Recommendations
1. Enhance information available to local communities.
Study participants expressed interest in learning more about the ECP and TNC. Many suggested
that TNC produce an informational pamphlet about the preserve specifically for local
distribution, or publish an updated and informative story about the ECP in the county
newspapers. These materials could also clarify why the preserve is not currently vehicle
accessible, which is because of public safety concerns related to road construction and timber
harvesting. TNC could better utilize local channels of communication as ways to promote the
results of their work that they believe to be beneficial, and to provide accurate information about
their projects to a broad, but local, audience.
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Addressing community concerns about taxation through open communication could potentially
assist in overcoming negative community attitudes towards conservation projects and TNC.
Although project staff thought that their employment of local contractors was a definite benefit
to the local economy, some participants did not believe this to be accurate. TNC could promote
the economic benefits that they have perceived and clarify how non-profit organizations are
taxed in an effort to allay persistent community frustrations.
2. Seek connections with local indigenous groups.
In the United States, as well as worldwide, indigenous peoples sometimes have an interest in the
use of, or even live within the borders of protected areas and conservation projects. This is also
true in the case of the ECP. Mr. Tony Johnson, current Tribal Chair of the Chinook Indian
Nation Tribal Council, and a key participant in this research, stated, “I think the tribe is always
going to have interest in access to resources.” He also reported that some conservation areas
around Willapa Bay contain areas that were traditionally sacred, or ceremonially important to the
Chinook. Often, their use of such areas has been inhibited by access restrictions enacted by the
land’s owners. Additionally, Mr. Johnson expressed interest on behalf of the Chinook in the use
of some natural materials that are abundant within the ECP.
TNC may want to consider reaching out to local Native American tribes and inquiring as to
whether tribal members would like to use the preserve for any traditional or ceremonial
activities. Such an offer could potentially lead to stronger ties between TNC and these groups. It
is important to note that establishing contact with these groups is a potentially positive action
whether or not the areas of tribal interest are on previously ceded or reservation lands. Further,
non-tribal study participants also encouraged the strengthening of these kinds of connections.
Contact information for the Chinook Tribe can be found on their website at:
http://www.chinooknation.org/contact.html.
3. Involve local community members and especially youth.
Some participants voiced concerns that many local youth seem to lack a connection to the natural
landscape. One KP said that they had “. . . never seen much outreach [from TNC] in terms of
school kids. I'd love to see [TNC] go into the high school with some sort of career based program
that would get people involved at the grassroots level” (interview October 9th, 2013). This
17. 16
participant, and several other interviewees, also stated that many Pacific County residents
perceive environmental organizations, including TNC, as “an urban idea that’s been plopped
down in a rural county.” Developing ways to involve local school children could present an
opportunity to address a community issue, involve the public, and create a sense of local
stewardship towards the ECP.
Although staffing and budget restrictions may make implementing educational programs
difficult, the long term benefits of this kind of investment may ultimately be cost effective. This
would potentially provide Willapa Bay youth with a channel to connect to the natural landscape,
and demonstrate that there are still forestry-based jobs available in Pacific County through
environmental restoration and conservation rather than strict timber harvesting. As one KP
stated, “there is a need for a local home-grown, grass roots organization . . . it’s a lot more
palatable when it’s your friends and neighbors and relatives and people you see in the
community” (interview March 25, 2014).
Conclusions
This case study used a variety of methods to provide unique insight into the socioeconomic
resulting from the ECP as perceived and experienced by local community members. Information
about public opinions of the ECP, TNC, and environmental conservation, and the impact of the
ECP on house prices in Pacific County was also collected and analyzed. The results of this case
study and those like it can provide natural resource managers with insight into why improving
community collaboration may increase public satisfaction with conservation projects. Successful
conservation programs often incorporate (1) an understanding of potentially impacted social-
political systems, (2) the identification of all stakeholders, and (3) the clarification of issues that
have the potential to evoke negative responses from these stakeholders (Carlsson and Berkes
2004:73). This study aimed to address these factors and to provide information that may be
useful in deciding the most effective and successful methods for the implementation of future
environmental projects.
Designing and implementing a collaborative and communicative strategy prior to establishing a
project like the ECP may be used to reduce opposition to conservation on a local level,
particularly in rural and historically forestry-dependent areas. Training the staff of environmental
18. 17
organizations to be approachable, open to public input, willing to utilize local knowledge, and to
consider the opinions and traditions of the community could potentially be the one of the most
invaluable investments such organizations make. Applying a collaborative and communicative
strategy may be particularly advantageous for garnering further public support for, or at least
reducing opposition to TNC’s presence within Willapa Bay, particularly if TNC plans to further
expand their operations within the region. It is clear that the long term success of environmental
conservation will rely not only on scientific advancement, but on the ability of natural resource
managers to collaborate with local people and create sustainable and trusting community
relationships.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks go to all the individuals who participated in interviews and surveys during the
course of this research. The experiences, opinions, and viewpoints shared are greatly appreciated,
and I hope that I have been able to accurately document and report them. Thank you to the
Nature Conservancy for allowing me to research and report on the Ellsworth Creek Preserve, and
to Pacific County community members and Chinook Nation tribal members for being welcoming
and willing to speak with me.
Special thanks to my thesis advisor, Dr. Tracy J. Andrews, for her direction and patience, and to
Dr. Elvin Delgado and Dr. Toni Sipic for their guidance. The Central Washington University
School of Graduate Studies provided partial funding for this project through a Master’s Research
or Creative Activity Fellowship.
19. 18
Figures
Figure 1. Pacific County and its location within Washington State. Cartography courtesy of
Derek Huling, Western Washington University graduate student.
Figure 2. Universities that have had students participate in research within the ECP. Cartography
courtesy of Derek Huling, Western Washington University graduate student.
20. 19
Tables
Table 1. Impact of the Distance from ECP on Housing Values in Pacific County
Variables Model
Distance from ECP
(in kilometers) -0.0196***
(0.0025)
Acres 0.0138***
(0.0016)
House Age -0.0123***
(0.0012)
House Age2
0.0001***
(0.00001)
Square Feet 0.0004***
(0.00001)
Block Fixed Effects Yes
Month and Year Fixed Effects Yes
Observations 2,079
R-squared 0.6615
Note: Standard errors in parentheses. ***
p<0.01, ** p<0.05, * p<0.1
21. 20
Table 2. Summary Statistics
Variable Mean Std. Dev.
Price (in 1994 $) 104380.3 61516.08
Distance from ECP (in kilometers) 10.84474 5.238261
Acres 1.173814 6.115903
Age 47.55556 30.64615
Square Feet 1418.847 594.217
Note: The dataset consists of 2079 observations.
22. 21
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