The University of Rhode IslandDuke Nicholas InstituteBonnie, RobertBennet, DrewDiamond, Emily PecharRowe, Elizabeth2024-10-182024-10-182020https://wyoscholar.uwyo.edu/handle/internal/9743https://doi.org/10.15786/wyoscholar/9951Rural voters in the American West have a strong commitment to environmental protections and conservation. This finding holds true even when protections may negatively impact economic growth, although voters expressed serious reservations about governmental oversight. This study analyzed data collected through a poll of over 1,800 voters nationwide as well as findings from focus groups with voters in eight Western states. Researchers compared the attitudes of rural and urban voters to understand differences and common ground in environmental policy preferences.Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ConservationenvironmentruralWestpollfocus groupsvotersfederal landprivate landopen spacepolicygovernmentprotectionrural/urban divideeconomyWhitney MacMillan Private Lands Stewardship Program