A Model for the Economic Evaluation of Cultural Ecosystem Services: The Recreational Hunting Function in the Agroforestry Territories of Tuscany (Italy)

Claudio Fagarazzi, Carlotta Sergiacomi, Federico M. Stefanini and Enrico Marone
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Claudio Fagarazzi: Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, P.le delle Cascine 18, 50144 Florence, Italy
Carlotta Sergiacomi: Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, P.le delle Cascine 18, 50144 Florence, Italy
Federico M. Stefanini: Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
Enrico Marone: Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, P.le delle Cascine 18, 50144 Florence, Italy

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 20, 1-15

Abstract: Cultural ecosystem services (CESs) are non-material benefits generated by natural and human ecosystems that substantially contribute to human wellbeing. Estimating the monetary value of CESs is challenging because there is no real market for these services and therefore there is no actual market price. This study seeks to define an economic evaluation method for these services, with special reference to a recreational CES that has so far received little discussion: hunting. We conducted an online survey in the province of Siena (Tuscany, Italy). The Consumer Surplus estimate of hunters was made using the travel-cost method with a detailed analysis of the annual expenditure on hunting activities, and a negative binomial statistical regression. The results reflect the nature of hunting activity and show the dynamics that have occurred over recent decades. In fact, whereas hunting used to be strongly connected to the rural world as it was an income supplement for local communities, nowadays it has turned into an elitist and almost exclusively recreational activity. In any case, knowing the economic value of ecosystem services constitutes an essential background for planning effective land management and development policies in the short and long term.

Keywords: cultural ecosystem services; economic assessment; travel-cost method; recreation; hunting; agroforestry territory; negative binomial regression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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