Benefits of wetland conservation interventions to local households in southwestern Ethiopia: empirical evidence from attributes-based valuation

Abstract

The paper estimates the value of improvement of wetland quality using choice experiment approach of stated preference valuation techniques. The study is based on household level data collected in 2011 from 120 randomly drawn respondents living around two wetlands within a radius of five kilometers in southwestern Ethiopia. Results show that the local communities are highly concerned about the environmental problems of the wetlands and they are willing to pay for the improvement of selected attributes of the wetlands. The most preferred attribute is found to be fish stock. Marginal willingness to pay for fish stock is about 5.04 ETB while this value is about 2.05 ETB for water purification attributes of the wetland. The compensating surplus, which reflect the overall willingness to pay of respondents for changes from the status quo to alternative improved scenarios, show that respondents are willing to pay 39.6 ETB for the improved wetland management interventions. The paper concludes by highlighting strategies that may help in halting the ongoing degradation of the wetlands in the study area