A landscape ecological planning process for wetland, waterfowl, and farmland conservation

This study is focused on the interrelationships between the rice agricultural system, wildlife, and humans. In particular, it focused on how different land use planning schemes with contrasting policy objectives for rice production could change the landscape structure and function of the rice agricultural system. The land use planning schemes were conventional rice production, organic rice production, and aggregate-with-outliers. The time frame for the predictions was from the year of 2003 to 2009, which represented the starting point and termination point of the next federal farm program. The hypothesis tested whether these land use planning schemes based on particular policy scenarios led to different conclusions about the future of the rice agricultural system for two sites in Colorado and Wharton Counties.;The target species for the study was the mid-continent population of lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens caerulescens), which is at a record population level. The rice agricultural system is significant to this species because it is the preferred food when the geese winter over in the Texas Gulf Coast. Therefore, a complex set of feedbacks exists between the rice agricultural system, federal policy, and lesser snow geese.;A system simulation model and Geographic Information Systems model based on knowledge were developed for the application of the land use planning schemes. Evaluation of the schemes was based on landscape ecological, economic, and expert opinion criteria. The testing of the systems simulation model indicated that the level of the price support behaved like a threshold, but long term monitoring would be needed in order to confirm this hypothesis. This finding had significance to the quantity and quality of potential wintering habitat available to lesser snow geese. In addition, the fewer the acres a rice farmer cultivated, the higher the price support payment that was needed to maintain profitability. The productivity of the soil made a difference in the profitability of a rice farm. The experts felt a blend of the three land use planning schemes was the best alternative for the next farm program from 2003 to 2009.