Assessment of Public Knowledge and Willingness to Pay for Recovery of an Endangered Songbird,the Golden-Cheeked Warbler |
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Authors: | Jacqueline R Ferrato Donald J Brown Audrey McKinney |
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Institution: | 1. The Nature Conservancy, San Antonio, Texas, USA;2. School of Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA;3. Department of Philosophy, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA |
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Abstract: | Ecological economics assigns value to resources. Valuation can be difficult when the resource is a species, particularly one that does not directly impact humans. The endangered golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia) is a songbird that breeds exclusively in central Texas. Using a door-to-door survey design, we investigated knowledge and willingness to pay for golden-cheeked warbler recovery actions in Austin, Texas, a city attempting to balance human population growth with conservation of several endangered species. Approximately half of respondents had knowledge of this species; of those 80% knew it was endangered. Seventy-four percent of respondents believed the species held value, and most regarded that value as existence-based. The mean willingness to pay was $21.47 per person annually over a 5-year period, including individuals not willing to pay. Our study indicated the public values the warbler, and is willing to provide monetary support for recovery and conservation efforts. |
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Keywords: | Conservation development endangered species public value |
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