Measuring the local costs of conservation: a provision point mechanism for eliciting willingness to accept compensation

Bush, G., Hanley, N. , Moro, M. and Rondeau, D. (2013) Measuring the local costs of conservation: a provision point mechanism for eliciting willingness to accept compensation. Land Economics, 89(3), pp. 490-513. (doi: 10.3368/le.89.3.490)

Abstract

Protected areas are employed worldwide as a means of conserving biodiversity. Unfortunately, restricting access to such areas imposes opportunity costs on local people who have traditionally relied on them to obtain resources such as fuelwood and bushmeat. We use contingent valuation to estimate the local benefits forgone from loss of access to a number of protected area types in Uganda. Methodologically, we innovate by implementing a “provision point” mechanism to estimate willingness to accept compensation (WTA) for loss of access to protected areas. We show that the provision point reduces mean WTA by a significant degree.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: We thank the U.K. Economic and Social Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council for funding Bush's Ph.D. under their interdisciplinary studentship scheme.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hanley, Professor Nicholas
• Authors: Bush, G., Hanley, N., Moro, M., and Rondeau, D.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Land Economics
• Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press
• ISSN: 0023-7639
• ISSN (Online): 1543-8325