The Preservation Value of Environmental Benefits in Abshineh Dam Wetland in Hamadan Province of Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Corresponding Author and Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Sayyed Jamaleddin Asadabadi University, Asadabad, Iran.

3 MSc. Graduate in Natural Resource Economics and Environment, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran

Abstract

Due to its special position in providing drinking water for the people of Hamadan province of Iran and being on the migration path of migratory birds, Abshineh Dam Wetland is important from an environmental point of view. Considering the provision of numerous and valuable goods and services by this wetland, this study aimed at determining the protection value of Abshineh Wetland and measuring the Hamadan residents' willingness to pay for its protection. For this purpose, conditional valuation method was used in a hypothetical market based on general preference. Also, to estimate the model, the logit model and the maximum likelihood estimation method were used, and the two-dimensional double selection method was used to extract the suggested amounts. Sampling was done using cluster random sampling method and study data was collected through interviews with 209 heads of households in Hamadan city in 2018. The study results showed that the variables of education level, household income, the level of familiarity with the wetland and knowledge about the habitat services of the wetland had positive effects, and the proposed amount variable had a negative effect on the willingness of people to pay for the preservation of the Absheena wetland. The average amount of willingness to pay for the preservation of the wetland was about 27870 IRI Rials and the annual protection value of the wetland was estimated to be more than 38.3 billion IRI Rials.

Keywords


  1. Acreman, M., Barbier, E. and Knowler, D. (1997). Economic valuation of wetlands: a guide for policy makers and planners.
  2. Amirnejad, H., Khalilian, S., Assareh, M.H. and Ahmadian, M. (2006). Estimating the existence value of north forests of Iran by using a contingent valuation method. Ecological Economics, 58(4): 665-675.
  3. Balali, H., Abdi, E. and movahedi, R. (2019). Determination of the recreational value of Mishan plain using contingent valuation method. Journal of Tourism and Development, 8(3): 30-44. DOI: 10.22034/jtd.2019.114064.1292. (Persian)
  4. Balali, H., Shahbazi, H. and Hakempoor, M. (2015). Tourism recreational value of environmental and tourism resources: case study of Ganjnameh zone in Hamedan province. Journal of Agricultural Economics Research, 10(2): 65-80. (Persian)
  5. Barbier, E.B. (2007). Valuing ecosystem services as productive inputs. Economic Policy, 22(49): 177-229.
  6. Bassi, N., Kumar, M.D., Sharma, A. and Pardha-Saradhi, P. (2014). Status of wetlands in India: a review of extent, ecosystem benefits, threats and management strategies. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 2: 1-19.
  7. Chaikumbung, M., Doucouliagos, H. and Scarborough, H. (2016). The economic value of wetlands in developing countries: a meta-regression analysis. Ecological Economics, 124: 164-174.
  8. Duffield, J.W. and Patterson, D.A. (1991). Inference and optimal design for a welfare measure in dichotomous choice contingent valuation. Land Economics, 67(2): 225-239.
  9. Fatahi, A. and Fatahzadeh, A. (2012). Preserving valuation of watershed areas using contingent valuation method (case study: Gomishan wetland). Iranian Journal of Watershed Management Science and Engineering, 5(17): 47-52. (Persian)
  10. Jafarinejad, M. (2001). Study of ecological values of Gomishan wetland with emphasis on fisheries and CVM method. Master Thesis of Environment, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran. (Persian)
  11. Guo, Z., Xiao, X., Gan, Y. and Zheng, Y. (2001). Ecosystem functions, services and their values – a case study in Xingshan County of China. Ecological Economics, 38(1): 141-154.
  12. Han, F., Yang, Z., Wang, H. and Xu, X. (2011). Estimating willingness to pay for environment conservation: a contingent valuation study of Kanas Nature Reserve, Xinjiang, China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 180(1): 451-459.
  13. Hanemann, M., Loomis, J. and Kanninen, B. (1991). Statistical efficiency of double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 73(4): 1255-1263.
  14. Hanemann, W.M. (1984). Welfare evaluations in contingent valuation experiments with discrete responses. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 66(3): 332-341.
  15. Judge, G.G., Griffiths, W.E., Hill, R.C., Lutkepohl, H. and Lee, T.C. (1988). Introduction to the theory and practice of econometrics. Second Edition, Wiley Series.
  16. Karami, O., Saleh, I., Rafiee, H. and Hosseinpour Naderi, M. (2016). Estimating recreational value of Nazhvan Park using contingent valuation method. Environmental Researches, 7(13): 85-92. (Persian)
  17. Lee, C.K. and Han, S.Y. (2002). Estimating the use and preservation values of national parks’ tourism resources using a contingent valuation method. Tourism Management, 23(5): 531-540.
  18. Mansouri¸ M.¸ Badban¸ Z.¸ Aadeli¸ K. and Abrari Vajari¸ K. (2015). Estimation of recreational value of Hassan Gaviar forest area using the conditional valuation method and the individual travel cost method. Iran Forest, 4(7): 507-521. (Persian)
  19. Mitchell, R.C. and Carson, R.T. (1989). Using surveys to value public goods: the contingent valuation method. Johns Hopkins University Press, Resources for the Future.
  20. Mohammadi¸ A. (2018). Economic valuation of environmental benefits of Abshineh dam wetland. Master Thesis of Natural Resources and Environmental Economics, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan. (Persian)
  21. Molaei, M., Yazdani, S., Sharzei, G. and Gas, A.C. (2009). Estimating preservation value of arasbaran forests ecosystem using contingent valuation method. Agricultural Economics, 3(2): 37-64. (Persian)
  22. Montazer-Hojat, A.H. and Mansouri, B. (2016). Economic valuation of environmental benefits (a case of Bamdezh wetland). Journal of Applied Economics Studies Iran (AESI), 5(18): 243-269. (Persian)
  23. Montazer-Hojat, A.H., Mansouri, B. and Ghorbannezhad, M. (2015). Economic valuation of shadegan wetland. Journal of Quantitative Economics (Quarterly Journal of Economics Review), 12(1): 55-77. (Persian)
  24. Mousavi¸ S.N. (2015). Estimation of economic-recreational valuation of Khafro waterfall and recreation area determining the factors affecting the willingness to pay using the conditional valuation method (CVM). Quarterly Regional Planning, 18(5): 157-170. (Persian)
  25. Ndebele, T. (2009). Economic non-market valuation techniques: theory and application to ecosystems and ecosystem services: a case study of the restoration and preservation of Pekapeka Swamp: an application of the contingent valuation method in measuring the economic value of restoring and preserving ecosytem services in an impaired wetland: a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Economics at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
  26. Ndebele, T. and Forgie, V. (2017). Estimating the economic benefits of a wetland restoration programme in New Zealand: a contingent valuation approach. Economic Analysis and Policy, 55: 75-89.
  27. Siew, M.K., Yacob, M.R., Radam, A., Adamu, A. and Alias, E.F. (2015). Estimating willingness to pay for wetland conservation: a contingent valuation study of Paya Indah wetland, Selangor, Malaysia. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 30: 268-272.
  28. Tan, Y., Lv, D., Cheng, J., Wang, D., Mo, W. and Xiang, Y. (2018). Valuation of environmental improvements in coastal wetland restoration: a choice experiment approach. Global Ecology and Conservation, 15: e00440 DOI: 1016/j.gecco.2018.e00440
  29. Turner, R.K., van den Bergh, J.C.J.M., Söderqvist, T., Barendregt, A., van der Straaten, J., Maltby, E. and van Ierland, E.C. (2000). Ecological-economic analysis of wetlands: scientific integration for management and policy. Ecological Economics, 35(1): 7-23.
  30. Zhao, B., Li, B., Zhong, Y., Nakagoshi, N. and Chen, J.k. (2005). Estimation of ecological service values of wetlands in Shanghai, China. Chinese Geographical Science, 15(2): 151-156.