The impact of biofuels on the propensity of land-use conversion among non-industrial private forest landowners in Florida

A hypothetical market for renting and converting forested land into row cropping for biofuel production revealed that nearly half of the 1060 non-industrial landowners sampled in Florida are willing to accept payments for land type conversion and the resulting supply function is inelastic and positive. While respondent's previous involvement with forest management cost-share program increased their probability of accepting payments for forest type conversion, those who indicated forest aesthetics as the primary reason for the land ownership were less likely to participate in this hypothetical market.

Research highlights
► A hypothetical market is used to model NIPF attitude for land use conversion.
► NIPF are willing to convert their land the supply function is inelastic and positive.
► Involvement with cost-share program increase land use conversion.
► Environmentalist are less likely to participate in this hypothetical market.