The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential for protecting critical resplendent quetzal habitat on private lands bordering the south-western edge of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica. First, a habitat analysis was made of 12 forest patches using a 10% strip method to obtain an importance value for the Lauraceae fed on by the resplendent quetzal. Second, a landowner survey was conducted using a structured interview questionnaire to determine landowner attitudes, and the possible factors influencing these attitudes, towards forested land, wildlife, the resplendent quetzal and potential habitat protection incentives. Significant differences were found between forest patch importance values for the Lauraceae suggesting that for conservation purposes careful forest patch selection is important. Most landowners were found to value their forested land more than their land under other uses and to favor technical forest management assistance over leasing. If funding can be made available there is a good chance that resplendent quetzal habitat can be adequately protected and managed through providing assistance to those landowners with the most critical forest patches. / Department of Natural Resources