Estimating Economical Value of Gilan Province\'s Estil Wetland Preservation

M. Kavoosi Kalashami, F. Paseban(Ph.D.)
Abstract
Valuable function of wetland ecosystem such as flood control, erosion control, water and wastewater purification, providing natural habitat and create a beautiful landscape, besides its special ecological position caused overwhelming concern about preservation of this natural ecosystems. This study determined the economic value of Estil wetland preservation which is located at Gilan province, for achieving mentioned goal double bound contingent valuation through linear logit, logarithm logit and Heckman two stage models was applied. Also, using AHP, relative importance of use and non-use value in total preservation value of Estil wetland was calculated.
The results showed that the annual expected value of preservation for each individual in linear logit, logarithm logit and Heckman two stage models were 96968, 134507 and 106702 rials, respectively. In linear and logarithm logit models independent variables of family number and bid had negative and meaningful effect on probability of individuals’ willingness to pay existence. On the other hand, independent variable of individual monthly revenue, responsibility index and financial affordability index had positive and meaningful effect on probability of individuals’ willingness to pay existence. Calculation of aggregate relative importance of wetlands’ values showed that relative importance of use value consist of direct, indirect and option values equaled 0.476 and relative importance of non-use value consist of bequest and existence values was 0.524.

JEL Classification: Q23, Q26

Keywords:
Economical Value, Preservation, CVM, AHP, Estil Wetland in Gilan Province