Estimating Conservation Value of “Dashtenaze Sari” Wildlife Refuge, and Factors Affecting the Willingness to Pay for Site Conservation
محورهای موضوعی : Relationship between Animal and Rangeland
Yaser Feizabadi
1
(Department of Agricultural Economics, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr Branch, Qaemshahr, Iran)
Seyedeh Sarah Hadian
2
(Student at Agricultural Economics Department, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr Branch, Qaemshahr, Iran)
کلید واژه: Willingness to pay, Contingent valuation method, logit model, “Dashtenaze Sari” wildlife refuge, conservation value,
چکیده مقاله :
Forests and rangelands are the most important natural ecosystems which provide many economic benefits to the society due to their biodiversity and ecological functionalities. Dashtenaz wildlife refuge, Sari, is a sylvan region, covering 55 ha of rangeland with abundant diversity, is refuge of an endangered species of deer called Dama mesopotamica. In this study, Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) and dichotomous choice were used to estimate the conservation value of this region in 2014. Moreover, the Logit regression model has been used to calculate individual’s Willingness to Pay (WTP), and parameters have been estimated based on maximum likelihood method. Firstly 35 questionnaires were distributed among the sample members. Validity and reliability of questionnaire were examined by experts and Cronbach`s Alpha test (0.84), respectively. Cochrane formula and random sampling method were used to estimate the sample size. Then, 429 questionnaires were selected in the cities surrounding rangeland (Sari, Behshahr, Miandorood, and Neka). Results showed that 77% of respondents were willing to pay for conserving the rangeland. On the other hand, variables such as bid (the amount of money proposed to respondents to pay for conserving rangeland), monthly income, level of responsibility, financial capability, environmental orientations, the number of visits and educations, had significant impact on individual’s WTP for area conservation at 1 to 10 percent level. In addition, per capita WTP for conserving Dashtenaze Sari has been calculated about 0.3 $ monthly and the annual value of Dashtenaze Sari per hectare was 18125 $.
Barbault, R. and Sastrapradja, S. D., 1995. Generation, maintenance and loss of biodiversity. Heywood, V. H. & Watson, R. T. (Eds.) Global Biodiversity Assessment. Cambridge University Press: 193-274.
Bernués, A., Tamara Rodríguez-Ortega, T., Raimon Ripoll-Bosch, R. and Frode Alfnes, F., 2014. Socio-Cultural and economic valuation of ecosystem services provided by Mediterranean mountain agro ecosystems. Regional Environmental Change. 14:1269-1289
Bing, Zh., Hanli, Sh., Pengwei, W., Jingbo, J., 2013. Willingness to pay for tourism eco-compensation in Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve. Forest Resources Management, 11: 68-75
Food and Agriculture Organization, (FAO), 2009. Case studies on measuring and assessing forest degration: Measuring and monitoring forest degration through national forest monitoring assessment.
Greene, W. H., 2002. Econometric analysis. Fifth edition, Prentice Hall.
Jankju, M., Mellati, F., Atashgahi, Z., 2011. Flora, life form and chorology of winter and rural range plants in the Northern Khorasan Province, Iran. Jour., Rangeland Science, 1(4): 269-284.
Jouri, M., Askarizadeh, H., Rahimi, D., Mahdavi, V., 2011. “Systemic Management on Mountainous Rangeland Ecosystem, Case Study: The Javaherdeh Rangeland of Ramsar”. Jour., Rangeland Science, 1(4):38-54
Karami, M., 1993. Situation of Persian fallow deer in Iran. Int. Studbook of Persian fallow deer, Berlin, Germany.
Mitchell, R. C. and Carson, R. T., 1989. Using surveys to value public goods: the contingent valuation method. Washington, DC: Resources for the Future.
Lehtonen, E., Kuuluvainen, J., Pouta, E., Rekola, M. and Li, C., 2003. Non-market benefits of forest conservation in southern Finland. Environmental Science and Policy. 6: 195-204.
Ojeda, M. O., Mayer, A. S. and Solomon, B. D., 2008. Economic valuation of environmental services sustained by water flows in the Yaqui River Delta. Ecological Economics, 1: 155-166.
Pearce, D. W. and Pearce, C. JT., 2001. The value of forest ecosystem. A report to the secretariat convention on biological diversity. Pepper, H. J., 1974. The Persian fallow deer. Orix 7: 291-294.
Rahimi, M., 2011. Estimated value of forest recreation parks and identify factors influencing willingness to pay Bonab Arsanjan visitors (Tourists). Australian Jour., Basic and Applied Sciences, 5(12): 1802-1805. (In Persian).
Sattout, E. J., Talhouk, S. N. and Caligari, P. D. S., 2007. Economic value of cedar relics in Lebanon: An application of contingent valuation method for conservation. Ecological Economics. 61: 315-322.
United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 2011. Human development report, 2011.
Sahabi, B., Hajian, M. and Javaheri, B.,2012. Assessment of factors affecting on the visitors' WTP and evaluating recreational importance of Jajroud Area, Economic Modeling, 6(1); 111-126. (In Persian).
Venkatachalam, L., 2004. The contingent valuation method: a review, environmental impact assessment review. Elsevier, 24(1): 89–124.
Whit, P., 2006. Public preferences and willingness to pay nature conservation in the North York Moors National park. Jour., Environmental Management, 55: 1-13.
