Cultural bequest values for ecosystem service flows among indigenous fishers: A discrete choice experiment validated with mixed methods

Kirsten L.L. Oleson, Michele Barnes, Luke M. Brander, Thomas A. Oliver, Ingrid van Beek, Bienvenue Zafindrasilivonona and Pieter van Beukering

Ecological Economics, 2015, vol. 114, issue C, 104-116

Abstract: Perhaps the most understudied ecosystem services are related to socio-cultural values tied to non-material benefits arising from human–ecosystem relationships. Bequest values linked to natural ecosystems can be particularly significant for indigenous communities whose livelihoods and cultures are tied to ecosystems. Here we apply a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to determine indigenous fishers' preferences and willingness-to-pay for bequest gains from management actions in a locally managed marine area in Madagascar, and use our results to estimate an implicit discount rate. We validate our results using a unique rating and ranking game and other mixed methods. We find that bequest is highly valued and important; respondents were willing to pay a substantial portion of their income to protect ecosystems for future generations. Through all of our inquiries, bequest emerged as the highest priority, even when respondents were forced to make trade-offs among other livelihood-supporting ecosystem services. This study is among a relative few to quantify bequest values and apply a DCE to model trade-offs, value ecosystem service flows, and estimate discount rates in a developing country. Our results directly inform coastal management in Madagascar and elsewhere by providing information on the socio-cultural value of bequest in comparison to other ecosystem service benefits.

Keywords: Cultural ecosystem services; Bequest value; Discrete choice experiment; Discount rate; Economic valuation; Madagascar (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (39)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:114:y:2015:i:c:p:104-116

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2015.02.028

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