What drives landholders to engage in coastal wetland programs? A synthesis of current knowledge and opportunities for future research

Globally, coastal wetlands such as mangroves and saltmarshes are in decline. With many coastal wetlands dispersed across privately owned lands, one strategy to promote their protection is through private land coastal wetland programs. While landholder engagement is key to developing such programs, little is known about how landholders interact with coastal wetlands on their properties. Through a global systematic review and meta-synthesis of 50 studies, we investigate the key factors driving landholders' decisions to engage in coastal wetland programs, and the lessons that could be applicable in guiding future coastal wetland programs. Our analysis revealed that financial benefits such as payments for loss of land for production/farming, and access to grants or loans were important motivations for participation. At the same time, non-financial motivations such as social recognition and relational values (e.g., strong environmental stewardship values) were also equally important. The most pronounced barrier to landholder engagement was a lack of technical knowledge, skills, and support. Most studies indicated that landholders' preferred incentives for program engagement were assistance for on-groundwork work such as materials and labor, land tax deductions, one-off cash/grants, and reliable program support officers. We also found that studies examining variations in preferences for program participation across landholder types and different coastal wetland contexts were sparse. Based on our review, we discuss strategies for improving landholder participation in potential coastal wetland programs and highlight areas where future research would prove valuable.