The role of social and environmental attitudes in non-market valuation: An application to the Białowieża Forest

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of non-economic motivations such as altruism and environmental concerns on social preferences and hence willingness to pay (WTP) for changes in forest management strategies in the Białowieża Forest in Poland. We used data from a discrete choice experiment (CE) with attributes describing changes in the quality of the forest and recreation. The choice experiment technique makes it possible to disentangle the effect of the trait of altruism and environmental concern with regard to different attributes and their levels. Environmental attitudes were measured using the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale, whereas the trait of altruism was determined using the Self-Reported Altruism (SRA) scale. The parameterization employed in the survey was a WTP space model. Results show that both altruism and environmental concerns have significant effects on the amount people are willing to pay for changes in forest management.     

Valuation of tropical forest services and mechanisms to finance their conservation and sustainable use: A case study of Tapantí National Park,Costa Rica

The Tapanti National Park in Costa Rica comprises a precious but vulnerable tropical rain forest area. The monetary values of ecosystem services that are provided by this park are estimated in order to assess the mechanisms to finance the park's conservation and sustainable use. The main ecosystem services provided by the park are water supply (for drinking and electricity generation), maintenance of biodiversity and opportunities for recreation and tourism. Based on interviews with over 300 stakeholders, the study identified the main beneficiaries of these ecosystem services. The monetary benefits of the three services combined were estimated at approx. US$2.5 million/year, equivalent to an average of US$43/year for the total park area (58.323 ha). Compared to other, similar areas, the recreation values are relatively low (approx. 0.6 million US$/year) while the water-supply service is very high: approx. 1.7 million US$/year for hydro-electricity and approx. 0.2 million US$/year for drinking water. Both the low recreation and high water supply values can be correlated with the high rainfall of over 6500 mm/year.To develop payment-mechanisms for the conservation and sustainable use of Tapantí National Park, the main stakeholders were asked about their willingness to pay for the maintenance of the services they benefited from. Different financing mechanisms have been explored, such as taxes, user fees, individual and corporate donations, friends' schemes, and voluntary contractual arrangements. In general, most of the stakeholders were willing to pay for the ecosystem services they received. These potential payments amounted to at least 400,000 US$/year, which excludes the hydro-electricity beneficiary. Even without payments from the hydro-electricity company, this amount suffices to cover the current (245,000 US$) and urgently needed additional budget (100,000 US$) for the National Park management.     

Conservation of a leafy vegetable important for communities in the Nigerian rainforest

Adoption and implementation of sustainable biodiversity conservation are essential for sustaining protected areas. But development of effective strategies to achieve them is problematic. This is often because of limited knowledge about the impact of biodiversity conservation policies on livelihood of indigenous people. This study uses dichotomous choice format to examine willingness to engage in the conservation of an indigenous leafy vegetable – Gnetum africanum Welw. The empirical data were generated from three communities in the vicinity of the Okwangwo Division of the Cross River National Park, Nigeria. The data were analyzed with the aid of the binary logit model. The study showed that the respondents’ mean willingness to pay per year to conserve the leafy vegetable was 7% of their income from non-timber forest products. The decision to conserve the leafy vegetable was influenced by factors such as cost associated with conservation, income from non-timber forest products, the distance of the respondent's residence to the Okwangwo Division, education and occupation.     

闽粤栲人工林驯化栽培试验和生态系统生产力的研究

本文对闽粤栲驯化栽培环节中的采种、育苗、造林和抚育管理技术进行了探索试验,并用分层切割法测定样木地上部分各器官的生物量,用壕沟法测定地下部分根系的生物量。结果表明:10年生林分生物量为76.416t/ha,其中乔木层为76.061t/ha;净生产量为7.642t/ha·a(乔木层7.606t/ha·a),乔木层中树干(包括树皮)、枝、叶和根系的生物量分别为3.938,1.372,0.705和1.591t/ha·a。解析木数据表明:胸径、树高和材积速生期分别出现在7—22年间、4—14年间和从第11年开始,该林分尚属生长旺盛期。     

Valuing Natural Forest Resources: An Application of Contingent Valuation Method on Adaba-Dodola Forest Priority Area,Bale Mountains,Ethiopia

This research employs a contingent valuation method (CVM) to estimate the respondents' willingness to pay (WTP) to gain use and control rights to a natural forest resource at the Adaba-Dodola Forest Priority Area (ADFPA) in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia. The analysis was based on data collected from 295 households residing in and around the forest resource. Both binary probit and ordered probit models were used to examine socioeconomic factors that determine the respondents' WTP to gain these rights. The estimated mean and median WTP were found to be ETB 24.41 (US$2.54) and ETB 22.14 (US$2.30) annually, respectively. Households with more members, have better exposure to education and training, perceive the need for forest conservation, are member of forest dwellers' association, and who are wealthier in terms of ownership of more cultivated land and livestock are willing to pay more; whereas those households characterized by earning better annual household income, those who got higher starting bid value, and those who live farther away from the prime forest resource are willing to pay less. This can be used to signal that there is a considerable non-market value attached to use and control rights to the natural forest. In particular, membership in official forest user groups has shown a strong and positive relationship with WTP in all the models employed. This implies the approach of participatory management using forest user groups is better both for the sustainability of the forest resource and the livelihoods of the people who depend upon it.     

Multiple use forestry and preservation of coniferous forests in Norway

The concepts of Multiple‐use forestry and preservation of “virgin”; coniferous forests are elements of an ongoing debate in Norway, regarding aesthetical and biological consequences of current forest management practices. A study, based on the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), was performed during the fall of 1990. Data were collected through in‐person interviews of 1204 persons above 15 years of age.

The main objectives of the study were to analyze: 1) Attitudes toward the present state of Norwegian forests, 2) Attitudes toward and maximum willingness to pay for changes in current forest management, 3) Preferences and maximum willingness to pay for preservation of “virgin”; coniferous forests, and 4) Attitudes toward society's right to impose restrictions on forest management on private forest land.

Based on responses to statements related to the forest area people usually visit, the study showed a low degree of conflict regarding the present state of Norwegian forests. A ranking of possible results of two alternative forest management strategies, i.e. 1) a more cautious forest management or 2) preservation of “virgin”; coniferous forests, gave the highest average scores to “Preservation of endangered plants and animals”; and “Preservation of “virgin”; forests for our descendants”;, both related to the second management strategy. The maximum willingness to pay for a more cautious forest management was 277 Norwegian kroner (NOK) per household and year, with a median value of NOK 50. 47% of the sample preferred the preservation alternative A specified by the governmental committee, Barskogutvalget, while 18% preferred alternative B and 9% preferred alternative C, corresponding to the governmental decision. 15% preferred a 0‐alternative, i.e. no further preservation of “virgin”; coniferous forests. Two possible sources of bias, related to the CVM, were tested.     

Spatially explicit demand for afforestation

Afforestation is a stated goal in European Union policy and several member states have already implemented schemes to extend forest cover. However, little is known about the magnitude of non-market benefits of afforestation and how these benefits spatially differ. In this article, we propose a novel method to spatially explicitly predict marginal willingness to pay for afforestation. The approach is illustrated with data from a discrete choice experiment on local land use changes in Germany. GIS data on the respondent's place of residence allows inferring their current endowment with forest, which enters the utility specification of each respondent's status quo alternative. Marginal willingness to pay estimates therefore represent the value of changes in local forest cover relative to the observed status quo. This relationship can be utilized to predict willingness to pay at the county level. We find that marginal willingness to pay decreases as the current endowment with forest increases. The estimated optimal share of forest based on the average respondent's preferences is between 50 and 60%. The associated county level predictions of marginal and total willingness to pay can be used to inform national, regional and local policies that aim to increase forest cover.     

Quantitative and financial evaluation of non-timber forest products (case study: Zemkan basin forests,West of Iran)

Although Zagros forests in western Iran lack industrial timber value due to the severe climate and socioeconomics problems, non-timber products are of great value and importance due to their high economic potential and also their potential to improve the welfare of forest-dwelling and forest-fringe villagers. This study was done in the forests of the Zemkan basin, an important part of central Zagros forests, Iran, to recognize the non-timber forest products (NTFP_S), investigate their potential economic value and role in people’s livelihood. Data, collected using forest cruising, participatory observations, interviews with indigenous and local persons and experts, identified wild pistachio resin, wild pistachio fruit, oak fruit and oak syrup (Shokeh manna) among the non-timber products in this basin with total potential harvestable NTFPs of 77.16, 771.602, 13248.68, and 1324.868 tons per year, respectively. The economic rent from NTFPs is 33 US$/ha/year and its total expected values with consideration of real interest rate when the exploiter invests the capital in the bank (6.4 %) and when money is borrowed from the bank to execute the incorporated projects (8.4 %) are $516/ha and $393/ha, respectively. Furthermore, families’ economic share from potential profit of NTFPs is annually $601 per household. In addition wild pistachio resin has the highest share of the total potential profit of NTFPs and its equal to 51 % of the total of potential profit of NTFPs. Therefore, it is suggested that decisions be made to increase the infrastructure and strengthen the local selling market to enhance the cash income from NTFPs. Forest participatory management practices are suggested to organize and improve traditional use of the forests.     

The economics of carbon sequestration through pest management: application to forested landbases in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan,Canada

This analysis employs a spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clem.) decision support system to examine costs and benefits of sequestering (protecting) carbon in forests through pest management. We analyzed 24 alternative spruce budworm protection scenarios for outbreaks on Prince Albert Forest Management Area (PAFMA) in Saskatchewan and Crown License 1 in New Brunswick. Scenarios included two outbreak severities (moderate and severe), three protection frequencies (very aggressive—protecting every year of the outbreak; aggressive—protecting the peak 3 years of outbreak; and semi-aggressive—protecting every second year of outbreak), and four protection program sizes (10,000 ha, 25,000 ha, 100,000 ha, or 150,000 ha). Under a severe outbreak, the largest (150,000 ha), very aggressive protection scenario provided the highest net CO₂ protected at 24.95 million metric tons (Mt) in PAFMA and 29.19 Mt in License 1. This protection scenario also provided the highest net present value at $64.23 M and $91.36 M in PAFMA and License 1, respectively. On the other hand, benefit/cost ratios were maximized under the smallest (10,000 ha) protection size at 11.90 and 15.37 using the aggressive and semi-aggressive protection frequencies in PAFMA and License 1, respectively. Finally, the discounted cost per ton of CO₂ protected was minimized at $0.48 and $0.37 using the smallest aggressive and semi-aggressive protection frequencies in PAFMA and License 1, respectively. The comparable costs and benefits from the moderate outbreak scenarios were similar, but generally less than, the severe outbreak scenarios. These results provide forest managers with important information needed to justify such carbon sequestration programs on economic grounds.     

Effect of management on the spatial spread of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) in Banff National Park

To evaluate control measures, the spread of mountain pine beetles, Dendroctonus ponderosae, in management and monitoring regions in Banff National Park was analyzed for years 1997 to 2004. The Park allowed mountain pine beetles to follow their natural course in a monitoring zone (74,041 ha), whereas in a management zone (45,997 ha) an extensive eradication program was established in 2001 which included baiting mountain pine beetles and cutting and burning all colonized trees. We used data collected from an annual aerial survey and the geo-referenced location of trees that were cut and removed to assess if the area colonized and the spatial extent of mountain pine beetles differed between the two zones. After 4 years, the control measures did not significantly affect the area colonized by mountain pine beetles, and in 2004 mountain pine beetles were still expanding in both zones, although at a slow rate (1.23 ha per year). The spatial extent and the rate at which 500 m × 500 m cells (25 ha) were colonized were much reduced in the management zone. Thus, the management program appeared to have reduced the success of long distance movement as measured by colonizing new 25 ha cells, but short distance dispersal remained successful as indicated by the continued increase in area colonized. The effectiveness of control measures was probably limited by the number of colonized trees that were missed and by survival rates determined by other untested factors.     

扎龙湿地非使用价值评价研究

采用条件价值法,通过调查消费者的支付意愿,研究了扎龙湿地的非使用价值.扎龙湿地的非使用价值为49.34亿元·a-1,其中存在价值为30.19亿元·a-1,遗产价值为13.62亿元·a-1,选择价值为5.53亿元·a-1,扎龙湿地人均支付意愿值(WTP)为40元·a-1;职业、文人程度、了解程度、偏爱程度与支付意愿呈极显著相关关系;性别、技术职称、收入水平与支付意愿不相关.年龄、职业、了解程度、偏爱程度与WTP值均极显著相关;性别与WTP值显著相关,而与技术职称、收入水平不相关.     

管涔山国家森林公园森林旅游资源资产评估研究

对山西省管涔山国家森林公园的森林旅游资源资产进行了评估,结果认为:旅游者的年支付意愿为62.9万元,旅游时间价值为176.07万元。     

Willingness to pay function for two fuel treatments to reduce wildfire acreage burned: A scope test and comparison of White and Hispanic households

This research uses the Contingent Valuation Method to test whether willingness to pay increases for larger reductions in acres of forests burned by wildfires across the states of California, Florida and Montana. This is known as a test of scope, a measure of internal validity of the contingent valuation method (CVM). The scope test is conducted separately for White households and Hispanic households to determine if cultural differences influences whether the scope test is passed. The public program to reduce acres burned involved prescribed burning and a mechanical fuel reduction program. The results of CVM logit regressions show that the acreage reduction variable is statistically significant at the 1% level for the two proposed fuel reduction programs, and the two types of households. The positive sign of this variable means that the more acreage reduction proposed in the survey the more likely people would pay for the fuel reduction program. Because of the significance of the acreage reduction variable in the willingness to pay function, this function can be used to evaluate the incremental benefits of different forest fire management plans that reduce acres burned by wildfires. These benefits would be part of the justification for prescribed burning and mechanical fire fuel reduction programs to protect forests from wildfires.     

Alley cropping Sesbania sesban (L) Merill with food crops in the highland region of Rwanda

Food production in the densely populated Rwandan highlands is impeded by soil erosion and loss in fertility. Alley cropping leguminous shrubs with food crops on contours is purported to minimize the problem and to provide wood and forage. This study reports the effect of Sesbania prunings plus moderate levels of N and P on bean (Phaseolus sp) and maize (Zea mays) yields in alley cropping. Experimental design was a randomized complete block with split-split plots. Main plots were alley width: 2, 4, 6 and 8 m. Phosphorus (P) at 0, 30 and 60 kg P₂O₅/ha occupied the subplot and nitrogen (N) at 0, 30 and 60 kg/ha were assigned at the sub-sub plot level. No P was applied to maize during the second cropping season. Crop yield in kg/ha included the land space taken by hedgerows. Bean yield in 6 m alleys (1100 kg/ha) was about twice that in 2 m alleys (500 kg/ha). Bean responded to N and P. Optimum alley width and N for bean yield were 6 m and 30 kg/ha, respectively. Cuttings from alley hedgerows provided stakes for climbing beans. Maize responded to N but not to residual P. The highest maize yield came from 8 m alleys with 40 kg/ha, but yields from 8 and 6 m alleys with the same N treatment were not significantly different. Maize plants in middle rows were significantly taller than plants in rows adjacent to hedgerows. Maize rust development showed significant alley width and row position effect. There were significantly fewer uredinia in the Sebania alleys relative to the control plots without shrub hedgerows. Rust development on maize in middle rows was significantly greater than development in border rows.     

The Ankasa Forest Conservation Area of Ghana: Ecosystem service values and on-site REDD + opportunity cost

The Ankasa Forest Conservation Area is one of the most important protected areas (PA) in West Africa. This study aimed at estimating the economic values of selected ecosystem services of the PA and the direct on-site REDD + opportunity costs to communities. We found that the PA stocks 32.8 million m³ (627 m³/ha) of standing trees with a stumpage value of about $ 19.1 million (364 $/ha), 64.3 million tCO₂e (1230 tCO₂e/ha) of carbon worth of $379.5 million ($7257/ha), and 6380 tons of nutrients worth of 0.64 million USD. The direct on-site REDD + opportunity cost for conserving the PA until 2042 was about 6.7–24.1 $/tCO₂e (0.22–0.80 $/tCO2e per year) in net present value. From our field observation of the PA, we did not see a buffer zone that separates the PA from the surrounding land uses. Establishing a buffer zone is very important for the sustainability of the PA. Such an effort, however, should take in to account the opportunity costs to the rural communities associated with possible displacement. Thus, the results of the study could be used as important input for designing policies that will reinforce the sustainability of the Ankasa PA and other conservation sites in Ghana.     

The effects of different types of management,functions, and characteristics of stands in Polish forests on the amount of coarse woody debris

In the modern forestry paradigm, many factors influence the amount of coarse woody debris (CWD). The present paper analyzes the effects of both local (national) programs (special functions of forests) and European programs (Natura 2000 sites), as well as the individual characteristics of forest stands. The study was conducted on 2,752 sampling plots distributed over an area of about 17,500 ha and located in lowland stands having a species composition typical of large areas in central Europe. Natura 2000 areas contained significantly more CWD (8.4 m³/ha) than areas not covered by the program (4.8 m³/ha). However, this is due to the fact that Natura 2000 sites involve well-preserved forest areas, such as nature reserves (26.6 m³/ha). In the managed forests that have been covered by the Natura 2000 program over the past several years, the volume of CWD has not increased. Forests with ecological and social functions differed slightly in the amount of CWD. More CWD occurred in protected animal areas (8.7 m³/ha) than in stands damaged by industry (3.9 m³/ha). Intermediate CWD levels were found in water-protection forests and in forests located around cities and military facilities. In managed forests, the lowest CWD volume was observed in middle-aged stands. The species composition of the stand had little effect on the volume of CWD. Only stands with a predominance of ash and alder had higher CWD levels (13.5 m³/ha). More CWD was found in stands whose species composition did not represent the potential site quality (6.4 m³/ha) than in habitats with the optimum species composition (3.8 m³/ha). CWD volume should be systematically increased taking into consideration local natural conditions. Such efforts should be focused on particularly valuable regions, and especially on Natura 2000 sites, where the threshold values reported from other European forests should be reached. Leaving some trees to die naturally and retaining reasonable amounts of such trees ought to be incorporated into CWD management practice in Poland.     

退田还湖工程对西洞庭湖湿地资源的影响及驱动力分析

应用GIS和RS技术,对西洞庭湖湿地退田还湖工程实施前(1996年)和工程实施后(2004年)2期TM遥感影像进行了解译、分析和处理,并探讨了工程实施前后土地利用变化情况。结果表明,退田还湖工程效果明显,西洞庭湖的湿地面积增加了8 657.82hm2,占湿地总面积的17.81%。其中核心区、缓冲区、实验区的湿地面积分别增加了548.55 hm2,368.46 hm2,2 331.9hm2;同时核心区泥沙淤积严重,泥滩面积增加了1 540.35hm2,占核心区湿地总面积的16.38%。实验区一些林地主要转化为建筑用地、旱地和芦苇滩地,一些泥沙滩地和苔草滩地主要转化为人工湿地。但总体上,西洞庭湖湿地面积呈增加趋势,其直接驱动力为退田还湖工程。     

Simulating coconut growth, development and yield with the InfoCrop-coconut model

Simulation modeling of perennial crops has immense potential for generating information for plantation managers. We report the development of the InfoCrop-coconut model and its application to coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) growing in diverse tropical and subtropical environments. The model is based on the generic crop model InfoCrop that simulates various annual crops in tropical and subtropical regions. The InfoCrop-coconut model was calibrated and validated with data compiled from published studies comprising many physiological, agronomical and nutritional experiments conducted between 1978 and 2005 in diverse geographic locations throughout India. The treatments included various water and nutrient regimes and varieties of coconut. Time to first flowering varied between 4 and 6 years, leaf production varied from 8 to 15 leaves year(-1) and nut yield ranged from 3000 to 27,000 nuts ha(-1) year(-1). The genetic coefficients used for calibration and validation were generated from field experiments conducted during 1995-2005. Model efficiency and validation performance were analyzed statistically. Simulated trends in phenological development, total dry mass and its partitioning, and nut yield agreed closely with observed values, although a 15% error was observed in a few cases. Considering that field measurements have an experimental error of 10-15% and wide variation existed within treatments, the model adequately simulated the effects of management practices and agro-climatic conditions over short periods. For a range of agro-climatic zones, simulated potential yields varied from 26 to 30 Mg ha(-1) year(-1) and potential annual dry mass production varied from 52 to 62 Mg ha(-1), depending on environment. We conclude that InfoCrop-coconut can be used to increase the efficiency of agronomic experiments designed to aid coconut crop management.     

Evaluation of 15 indigenous and introduced species for reforestation and agroforestry in northeastern Mexico

The coast of the Gulf of Mexico is characterized by dry regions with high variation in climatic conditions. This area is rich in drought-tolerant or subhumid species. The species that are potentially useful for reforestation, regreening, agroforestry activities and the production of timber, fodder, fuelwood and human food have been overexploited, resulting in the gradual decrease and degradation of their populations. This study was undertaken in order to suggest ways of improving the regeneration of these species. Fifteen native and exotic multipurpose tree species of low dry shrubland planted in monoculture in four randomized blocks. Measurements of various growth parameters, volume of trees, fodder potential and agroforestry uses over 15 years were evaluated. Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., E. microtheca F. Muell., Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. (exotic species), Acacia farnesiana (L.) Wild and Parkinsonia aculeata L. (native species) tend to have better characteristics in terms of growing annual rate, economic value and management schemes, while Prosopis glandulosa Torr. and Helietta parvifolia (Gray) Benth. (native species) did not establish well due to biotics problems which arose under plantation conditions. Acacia rigidula Benth., A. wrightii Benth. and two Pithecellobium spp. (native species) had intermediate yields of great interest since their multipurpose potential is the best of all 15 species. The forage potential of the exotic species (483–1684 kg DM//ha/year) were notably superior to native species (76–721 kg DM/ha/year). The firewood production volume varied between averages of 0.3–1.2 (native species) and 0.4–2.5 m³/ha/year (exotic species). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nonmarket Benefits of Reducing Environmental Effects of Potential Wildfires in Beetle-Killed Trees: A Contingent Valuation Study

We estimated Colorado households’ nonmarket values for two forest management options for reducing intensity of future wildfires and associated nonmarket environmental effects wildfires. The first policy is the traditional harvesting of pine beetle-killed trees and burning of the slash piles of residual materials on-site. The second involves harvesting but moving the residual material off-site and converting it into biochar, thus reducing some of the risk and environmental effects associated with burning on-site. A contingent valuation method mail survey was used to evaluate these two management options. The survey achieved a 47% response rate. We used a nonparametric Turnbull estimator to calculate the willingness to pay (WTP) for burn on-site and off-site biochar conversion. The calculated WTP for burn on-site and off-site biochar conversion options (beyond the cost of the status quo level of forest treatment) is $411 and $470 per household per year, respectively.