1,721,004 research outputs found
Exploring the influence of an extended theory of planned behaviour on preferences and willingness to pay for participatory natural resources management
No full textAssessing tourists’ preferences for conservation of large carnivores in the Italian Alps using a discrete choice experiment
No full textA study on tourists’ preferences for wildlife conservation in the Italian Alps using a choice experiment is presented. The study focuses on wolves, lynx and salamanders, which are in danger of extinction. Welfare analysis suggests that WTP for varying sizes of animal population increases up to 45–55 animals and then decreases. This indicates that tourists are willing to financially contribute to an increase in the number of animals, but they do not want too many individuals, probably due to the impacts that large populations of carnivores may have. Estimated consumer surplus confirms a larger positive welfare change for the scenario with 50 animals. A population of 50 animals is considered a viable population for the survival of wolves and lynx; therefore results indicate that tourists are willing to contribute for sustainable wolf and lynx conservation. The analysis also indicates that the places of residence and where respondents grew up influence preferences
How much Fear? Exploring the Role of Integral Emotions on Stated Preferences for Wildlife Conservation
Full text linkScientific evidence suggests that emotions affect actual human decision-making, particularly in highly emotionally situations such as human-wildlife interactions. In this study we assess the role of fear on preferences for wildlife conservation, using a discrete choice experiment. The sample was split into two treatment groups and a control. In the treatment groups the emotion of fear towards wildlife was manipulated using two different pictures of a wolf, one fearful and one reassuring, which were presented to respondents during the experiment. Results were different for the two treatments. The assurance treatment lead to higher preferences and willingness to pay for the wolf, compared to the fear treatment and the control, for several population sizes. On the other hand, the impact of the fear treatment was lower than expected and only significant for large populations of wolves, in excess of 50 specimen. Overall, the study suggests that emotional choices may represent a source of concern for the assessment of stable preferences. The impact of emotional choices is likely to be greater in situations where a wildlife-related topic is highly emphasized, positively or negatively, by social networks, mass media, and opinion leaders. When stated preferences towards wildlife are affected by the emotional state of fear due to contextual external stimuli, welfare analysis does not reflect stable individual preferences and may lead to sub-optimal conservation policies. Therefore, while more research is recommended for a more accurate assessment, it is advised to control the decision context during surveys for potential emotional choices
Estimating the economic benefits of the landscape function of ornamental trees in a sub-Mediterranean area
No full textAn ornamental tree intimately associated with the image of Lake Garda (northern Italy), in terms of urban forestry as well as urban greening, is the Cupressus sempervirens L. (cypress). This pleasing landscape is threatened by the so-called ‘cypress canker’ (Seiridium cardinale), a pathogen that is destroying cypresses in the north of Italy. In order to combat this disease effectively, the trees need to be monitored, treated and possibly replaced by resistant varieties. Such interventions are quite costly for cash-strapped policymakers and can only be justified economically if the disappearance of the cypress trees would demonstrably reduce the landscape value of the area. In order to evaluate the social benefits promoted by the cypress landscape protection policy, we used the Contingent Valuation Method, interviewing in situ and face-to-face 411 randomly drawn tourists (response rate 75%). For the evaluation scenario, different pictures were used, some representing the landscape with cypress trees and some without. Then we examined willingness to pay (WTP) for research expenditure and treatments to preserve the cypresses. The WTP elicitation format used was a payment card, while the Quantile Regression and Cameron and Huppert models were estimated for parametric analysis of the data. Once we had eliminated the protest bids (15%) and the outliers (10%), we assessed the per person WTP of h1.28 (parametric mean) and 1.11 (non-parametric mean) and reached an annual value of nearly three million Euros. The present value exceeds 100 million Euros and indicates the economic efficiency of public expenditure in caring for the cypress
Estimating the economic benefits of the landscape function of ornamental trees in a sub-Mediterranean area
No full textAn ornamental tree intimately associated with the image of Lake Garda (northern Italy), in terms of urban forestry as well as urban greening, is the Cupressus sempervirens L. (cypress). This pleasing landscape is threatened by the so-called ‘cypress canker’ (Seiridium cardinale), a pathogen that is destroying cypresses in the north of Italy. In order to combat this disease effectively, the trees need to be monitored, treated and possibly replaced by resistant varieties. Such interventions are quite costly for cash-strapped policymakers and can only be justified economically if the disappearance of the cypress trees would demonstrably reduce the landscape value of the area. In order to evaluate the social benefits promoted by the cypress landscape protection policy, we used the Contingent Valuation Method, interviewing in situ and face-to-face 411 randomly drawn tourists (response rate 75%). For the evaluation scenario, different pictures were used, some representing the landscape with cypress trees and some without. Then we examined willingness to pay (WTP) for research expenditure and treatments to preserve the cypresses. The WTP elicitation format used was a payment card, while the Quantile Regression and Cameron and Huppert models were estimated for parametric analysis of the data. Once we had eliminated the protest bids (15%) and the outliers (10%), we assessed the per person WTP of h1.28 (parametric mean) and 1.11 (non-parametric mean) and reached an annual value of nearly three million Euros. The present value exceeds 100 million Euros and indicates the economic efficiency of public expenditure in caring for the cypress
Estimating the economic benefits from outdoor recreation on a scenic route: the Ponale road
No full textThe Ponale road features a spectacular panorama, consisting on one of the most beautiful mountain-top view of the Lake Garda (Italy). In the past, it attracted large numbers of tourists from all over Europe, especially mountain bikers, cut to its unique characteristics. However, it was close at the end of the 1990s due to geologica instability. In this study, we estivate the social benefit of reopening of this scenica route using the contingent valuation method, focusing exclusively on its recreational use value. during 2002, we conducete faceto-face interviews with 675 randomly draw potential users, both tourists and residents, because at the time the reserach was carie out the road was closed to aqny type of use. A hypothetical scenario propose the reopening of the road conditional on usesrs paying an access dee. We elicited willigness to pay (WTP) using a payment-card format. The Cameron and Hupper parametric interval regressione method was used to analyze data. Benefits compared with annual cost of mantainance show the attractiveness of the project. The feasibility of a pricing policy was also evaluated
Testing hypothetical bias with a real choice xperiment using respondents’ own money
No full textThe investigation of hypothetical bias in choice experiments (CEs) has typically been
conducted in the laboratory with only minimal field experiments. Moreover, it is
common practice to provide an initial endowment (money or coupons) to respondents.
In this research, we employed a between-subject CE in a supermarket with three different treatments (i.e. hypothetical, hypothetical with cheap talk script and real). With the
‘real’ treatment, we required respondents to use their own money when making a
payment. The proposed incentive-compatible mechanism mimics as close as possible
the everyday purchasing situation. Results confirm the presence of hypothetical bias
and the mixed effectiveness of a cheap talk scrip
The role of emotions on tourists' willingness to pay for the Alpine landscape: a latent class approach
No full textPrevious research suggests that landscape preferences vary systematically amongst people. While various sources of heterogeneity have been considered in landscape preference literature, the role of emotions on willingness to pay for landscape features has never been examined. This article presents results of a choice experiment carried out for eliciting tourists’ for Alpine landscapes. The emotional state of respondents was used to model heterogeneity in a latent class approach. The study area is a valley in the Italian Alps, characterised by a strong importance of the primary sector and a low number of tourists. Landscape management could attract new visitors, providing additional income for the local inhabitants. Results indicate that respondents prefer a variegated and multi-faceted landscape, with a mix of tree species, several agricultural crops and open areas with grazing animals and that incidental emotions play a role in the construction of landscape preferences and influence willingness to pay
Tourists’ Preferences for Protected Areas Management: The Effect of Ambient Weather Conditions
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