Private forest owners’ Participation in conservation programme: the case of Natura 2000 contracts in France

Natura 2000 is a European Union’s network of protected areas. In France, all forest owners whose forest is located in a Natura 2000 site could enroll in Natura 2000 program. After enrollment, the forest owner will benefit from a financial support which covers all theadditional cost due to participating the program and also the exemption from certain taxes such as land tax. Natura 2000 was created as an incentive-based conservation program to enhance landholders’ participation to improve some identified ecological outcomes. Aslandowners are very heterogeneous in terms of their preferences and values, it is crucial to understand the determinants of participation for those who signed the proposed contracts. Our study has several objectives: first, finding out whether the conservation program is attractive for the private forest owners who want to conserve the biodiversity of their land; second, investigating which types of forest owners will be attracted to participate; third, searching in what kind of region is easier to implement Natura 2000 program.