What helps compliance with environmental programs? The answers might surprise you.

Author: Dr. Jonathan Bauchet

A watershed moment: A surprising look at what aided environmental compliance in a Bolivian water conservation program. 

With climate changing ever faster, creating effective conservation programs is more important than ever. Dr. Jonathan Bauchet from the Division of Consumer Science at Purdue University’s White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and his colleagues analyzed factors driving compliance with requirements in a Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) program in Bolivia. Program design features were more important for compliance than participants’ characteristics and values. Environmental policymakers and practitioners bear the primary burden of carefully designing programs for maximum compliance and effectiveness.