Local Communities’ Willingness to Accept Compensation for Sustainable Ecosystem Management in Wadi Araba, South of Jordan

Amani Al-Assaf, Abeer Albalawneh, Mohammad Majdalawi, Lana Abu Nowar, Rabab Kabariti, Amgad Hjazin, Safaa Aljaafreh, Wafa’a Abu Hammour, Mai Diab and Nizar Haddad
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Amani Al-Assaf: Departments of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Abeer Albalawneh: Environment and Climate Change Research Directorate, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Al-Balqah 19381, Jordan
Mohammad Majdalawi: Departments of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, School of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Lana Abu Nowar: Economic and Social Studies Research Directorate, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Al-Balqah 19381, Jordan
Rabab Kabariti: Economic and Social Studies Research Directorate, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Al-Balqah 19381, Jordan
Amgad Hjazin: Environment and Climate Change Research Directorate, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Al-Balqah 19381, Jordan
Safaa Aljaafreh: Environment and Climate Change Research Directorate, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Al-Balqah 19381, Jordan
Wafa’a Abu Hammour: Environment and Climate Change Research Directorate, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Al-Balqah 19381, Jordan
Mai Diab: Environment and Climate Change Research Directorate, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Al-Balqah 19381, Jordan
Nizar Haddad: Bee Research Directorate, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Al-Balqah 19381, Jordan

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: In developing countries, like Jordan, climate change and population growth have prompted land-use and land-cover changes that have profoundly affected ESs, especially by poor people living in fragile ecosystems. This study aimed to analyze the attitudes towards ES among households living in Wadi Araba, a study area located in a dry ecosystem with limited natural resources, as well as to determine the value of ES and the main socio-economic and perceptions factors influencing households’ willingness to accept (WTA) compensation according to the families’ priorities. The face-to-face method was used to interview a random sample of 296 residents from the study sites, using a structured questionnaire to capture the accepted level of compensation for conservation by the local community. Additionally, multiple linear regression analysis was applied to determine the main socio-economic factors affecting WTA. More than 91% of the respondents were willing to accept compensation for three different conservation plans that reflect the resident’s priority. For the three priorities, the weighted average of the compensation levels was JOD 436, 339, 261 per household per year, respectively, and the aggregate values were about JOD (1,196,977.8, 930,601.2, and 719,411.8, respectively) (JOD 1 = USD 1.41). The residents’ gender, age, and income were among the most important factors that affect the compensation level. The main policy implications are that the government and non-governmental organizations should strengthen advocacy and education of arid ecological and natural resources protection, besides including the local community in any decisions in establishing differentiated compensation strategies and regulations. Eventually, the conservation and restoration activities will become self-initiated.

Keywords: willingness to accept; arid land; ecosystem services; compensation; eco-tourism (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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