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Abstract
Increasing landholder participation in environmental programmes is often essential for
achieving desired levels of restoration and protection, as well as the economic goals of
efficiency and equity. Previous literature has identified sociodemographic property
and attitudinal variables that influence participation. Using qualitative research, we
identify variables relating to human capital (business orientation and information seeking
behaviour) and social capital (trust in those delivering programmes and connectedness
with other landholders) that have been seldom or never identified as influencing
participation. New scales are developed and existing scales refined for measuring these
constructs, and their influence on past and future participation is examined together
with a range of other constructs. The effect of these variables is examined using a survey
of Australian landholders, and the results demonstrate the primacy of variables relating
to human and social capital in influencing past and future participation.