Considering Farmers’ Heterogeneity to Payment Ecosystem Services Participation: A Choice Experiment and Agent-Based Model Analysis in Xin’an River Basin, China

Shengnan Li, Baohang Hui, Cai Jin, Xuehan Liu, Fan Xu, Chong Su and Tan Li
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Shengnan Li: College of Economics and Management, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Baohang Hui: College of Economics and Management, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Cai Jin: College of Economics and Management, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Xuehan Liu: College of Economics and Management, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Fan Xu: College of Economics and Management, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Chong Su: Institute of Agriculture Remote Sensing and Information Technology, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Tan Li: College of Economics and Management, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: The concept of watershed ecological compensation is one payment for ecosystem services (PES) program that incentivizes stakeholders undertake environmental conservation activities that improve the provision of ecosystem services. Defining the heterogeneity of farmers’ willingness to participate in watershed ecological compensation is critically important for fully understanding stakeholders’ demands. Accordingly, we designed a choice experiment survey to analyze the heterogeneity of policy preferences and willingness to receive compensation between upstream and midstream farmers in Xin’an River basin, China. Moreover, we simulated the impact of farmers’ social capitals’ heterogeneity with an agent-based model. The results show that there are significant differences in the preferences of agricultural waste recycling rate and agricultural water quality between farmers in the upstream and midstream. The total willingness of farmers in the upstream and midstream to participate in ecological compensation are RMB 149.88 (USD 22.54)/month and RMB 57.40 yuan (USD 8.63)/month, respectively. Social network size has a negative effect on farmers’ willingness to participate the programs. Our findings suggest that the characteristics of farmers’ influence their willingness to participate in the PES program. The results of this research can be used to improve PES management policies in the future, as well as to support sustainable environmental development and rural revitalization.

Keywords: ecological compensation; choice experiment; agent-based model; China; Xin’an River Basin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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