J. For. Sci., 2016, 62(10):452-462 | DOI: 10.17221/4/2016-JFS

Recreational values of forest park using the contingent valuation method (case study: Saravan Forest Park, north of Iran)Original Paper

S. Mohammadi Limaei1, G. Safari2, G. Mohammadi Merceh3
1 Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, Iran
2 Iranian National Tax Administration, Karaj, Iran
3 Department of Business Management, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran

The aim of this research was to evaluate the economic values of Saravan Forest Park, north of Iran. The contingent valuation method was used for this propose. In order to do this research, 480 questionnaires were used. The questionnaires were distributed randomly among the visitors in different seasons. A linear logit regression model was used to estimate the relation between dependent and independent variables. The software including MS Excel, Eviews and Shazam was used for statistical analysis of variables, mathematical calculation and parameter estimation of the logit model. Results indicated that the variables such as proposed entrance fee, monthly income, non-governmental organization membership, moralizing view on the environment and natural resources as well as length of stay have significant effects on willingness to pay for the recreational use of the study area. Results showed that 91.19% of people were willing to pay for the recreational value of the forest park. Results also showed that the total annual recreational value of the forest park is 22,761.6 million IRR.

Keywords: willingness to pay; environmental economics; logit regression model; economic values

Published: October 31, 2016  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Mohammadi Limaei S, Safari G, Mohammadi Merceh G. Recreational values of forest park using the contingent valuation method (case study: Saravan Forest Park, north of Iran). J. For. Sci. 2016;62(10):452-462. doi: 10.17221/4/2016-JFS.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Abrishami H. (2006): Microeconomics. Tehran, University of Tehran: 742.
    2. Amiri N., Emadian S.F., Fallah A., Adeli K., Amirnejad H. (2015): Estimation of conservation value of myrtle (Myrtus communis) using a contingent valuation method: A case study in a Dooreh forest area, Lorestan Province, Iran. Forest Ecosystems, 2: 30. Go to original source...
    3. Amirnejad H., Ahmadi Kaliji S., Aminravan M. (2014): The application of the contingent valuation method to estimate the recreational value of Sari Forest Park. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences, 7: 708-711.
    4. Amirnejad H., Khalilian S., Assaresh M.H., Ahmadian M. (2006): Estimating the existence value of north forests of Iran by using a contingent valuation method. Ecological Economics, 58: 665-675. Go to original source...
    5. Carson R.T., Hanemann W.M. (2005): Contingent valuation. In: Mäler K.G., Vincent J.R. (eds): Handbook of Environmental Economics. Amsterdam, Elsevier: 821-936. Go to original source...
    6. Central Bank of Iran (2016): Foreign exchange rates. Available at http://www.cbi.ir/ExRates/rates_en.aspx (accessed Aug 11, 2016).
    7. Ciriacy-Wantrup S.V. (1947): Capital returns from soil-conservation practices. Journal of Farm Economics, 29: 81-96. Go to original source...
    8. Cochran W.G. (1977): Sampling Techniques. 3rd Ed. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: 428.
    9. Cramer J.S. (2003): Logit Models from Economics and Other Fields. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press: 13. Go to original source...
    10. Cronbach L.J. (1951): Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika, 16: 297-334. Go to original source...
    11. Davis R.K. (1963): Recreation planning as an economic problem. Natural Resources Journal, 3: 239-249.
    12. DEFRA (2007): An Introductory Guide to Valuing Ecosystem Services. London, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: 68.
    13. Ecosystem Valuation (2015): Contingent valuation method. Available at http://www.ecosystemvaluation.org/contingent_valuation.htm (accessed Jan 10, 2016).
    14. FAO (2000): Applications of the Contingent Valuation Method in Developing Countries: A Survey. Rome, FAO: 146.
    15. Gunawardena U.A.D.P., Edwards-Jones G., McGregor M.J., Abeygunawardena P. (1996): Tropical forestry a contingent valuation approach for a tropical rainforest: A case study of Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve in Sri Lanka. In: Roper C., Park A. (eds): The Living Forest: Non-market Benefits of Forestry. Proceedings of an International Symposium on Non-market Benefits of Forestry, Edinburgh, June 24-28, 1996: 275-284.
    16. Hadker N., Sharma S., David A., Muraleedharan T.R. (1997): Willingness to pay for Borivli National Park: Evidence from a contingent valuation. Ecological Economics, 21: 105-122. Go to original source...
    17. Hanemann W.M. (1984): Welfare evaluations in contingent valuation experiments with discrete responses. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 66: 332-341. Go to original source...
    18. Hanemann W.M. (1989): Welfare evaluations in contingent valuation experiments with discrete response data: Reply. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 71: 1057-1061. Go to original source...
    19. Hanemann W.M. (1994): Valuing the environment through contingent valuation. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 8: 19-43. Go to original source...
    20. Lee C.K. (1997): Valuation of nature-based tourism resources using dichotomous choice contingent valuation method. Tourism Management, 18: 587-591. Go to original source...
    21. Lee C.K., Han S.Y. (2002): Estimating the use and preservation values of National Parks' tourism resources using a contingent valuation method. Tourism Management, 23: 531-540. Go to original source...
    22. Lee C.K., James W.M. (2007): Valuation of ecotourism resources using a contingent valuation method: The case of the Korean DMZ. Ecological Economics, 63: 511-520. Go to original source...
    23. Lo A.Y., Jim C.Y. (2015): Protest response and willingness to pay for culturally significant urban trees: Implications for contingent valuation method. Ecological Economics, 114: 58-66. Go to original source...
    24. Statistical Center of Iran (2011): Implementation of the 2011 Iranian population and housing census in autumn (24 October-13 November 2011). Available at http://www.amar.org.ir/english/Census-2011 (accessed Oct 15, 2015).
    25. Statistical Center of Iran (2015): Iran statistical yearbook 1392 (2013-2014). Available at http://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/preliminary.pdf (accessed Aug 11, 2016).
    26. Venkatachalam L. (2004): The contingent valuation method: A review. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 24: 89-124. Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content