Habitat Quality Variation Across Stages of a Conservation Program

A core rationale for wildlife conservation incentive programs is their ability to catalyze habitat provision on private lands. Stewardship drop refers to the magnitude and timing of the decreased landowner effort that most notably occurs after a landowner completes a conservation incentive program. We examined how landowner and land use characteristics, motivations for program participation, perceptions of land management effort, and program characteristics were related to habitat quality across stages of a program. We used a mail survey to examine engagement and perceptions of habitat management across landholders, from newly enrolled to those in the post‐completion stage. We conducted on‐site habitat assessments for a subsample of landowners to assess habitat condition. We found that habitat condition ratings decreased before program completion, during the monitoring stage, and remained at a similar level afterward. Stewardship drop was primarily associated with completed agreements and longer contracts. Programs should anticipate erosion by including mechanisms that support landowners throughout the program and during the transition as contracts conclude. We highlight the timing of payments as a structural fix and a relational monitoring approach as promising ways to mitigate stewardship drop.