Economic valuation of the ecosystem services provided by a protected area in the Brazilian Cerrado: application of the contingent valuation method

Abstract

Considering that the economic valuation of ecosystem services is a useful approach to support the conservation of natural areas, we aimed to estimate the monetary value of the benefits provided by a protected area in southeast Brazil, the Serra do Cipó National Park. We calculated the visitor's willingness to pay to conserve the ecosystems of the protected area using the contingent valuation method. Located in a region under intense anthropogenic pressure, the Serra do Cipó National Park is mostly composed of rupestrian grassland ecosystems, in addition to other Cerrado physiognomies. We conducted a survey consisting of 514 interviews with visitors of the region and found that the mean willingness to pay was R$ 7.16 year -1 , which corresponds to a total of approximately R$ 716,000.00 year -1 . We detected that per capita income, the household size, the level of interest in environmental issues and the place of origin influenced the likelihood that individuals are willing to contribute to the conservation of the park, as well as the value of the stated willingness to pay. This study conveys the importance of conserving rupestrian grassland and other Cerrado physiognomies to decision makers and society.Keywords: ecological economics, economic value, Espinhaço Mountains, rupestrian grasslands, willingness to pay. Valoração econômica de serviços ecossistêmicos fornecidos por uma área protegida no Cerrado brasileiro: aplicação do método de valoração contingente ResumoDado que a valoração econômica de serviços ecossistêmicos é uma abordagem útil para incentivar a conservação de áreas naturais, tivemos como objetivo estimar o valor monetário dos benefícios fornecidos por uma área protegida no sudeste do Brasil, o Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó. Calculamos a disposição a pagar dos visitantes pela conservação dos ecossistemas abrangidos pela área protegida, usando o método da valoração contingente. Localizado em uma região que sofre intensa pressão antrópica, o Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó é composto majoritariamente por campos rupestres, além de outras fitofisionomias do Cerrado. Realizamos 514 entrevistas com os visitantes da região e encontramos uma disposição a pagar média de R$ 7,16 ano -1 , o que corresponde ao total de aproximadamente R$ 716.000,00 ano -1 . Detectamos que renda per capita, número de dependentes, nível de interesse por temas relacionados ao meio ambiente e local de origem influenciam a probabilidade de o indivíduo estar disposto a contribuir para a conservação do parque, assim como o valor da disposição a pagar declarada. Este estudo atrai atenção dos tomadores de decisão e da sociedade para a importância de se conservar os campos rupestres e outras fitofisionomias do Cerrado.Palavras-chave: economia ecológica, valor econômico, Serra do Espinhaço, campos rupestres, disposição a pagar.

The deadly route to collapse and the uncertain fate of Brazilian rupestrian grasslands

“…The case of Brazilian rupestrian grasslands calls for profound scientific, conservation and political consideration due to their unparalleled biodiversity and levels of endemism, plus their strategic importance as a source of goods, including water, ornamental species, and scenic beauty for sustainable tourism, especially for the densely populated southeastern Brazil (Resende and Fernandes 2013;Resende et al 2017). Mountain environments in the Cerrado have until recently been relatively free from huge extensive cattle farming and habitat-aggressive plantations, such as soybean and sugar cane (Gibbs et al 2015).…”

“…A first step towards effective conservation of rupestrian grasslands is the translation, to all sectors of society, of the knowledge and importance of this ecosystem and the magnitude of the loss due to its conversion and misuse. For instance, the consequences of the loss of environmental services and of the overexploitation of natural resources leading to deterioration of human wellbeing is an aspect that needs to become appreciated (see Biénabe and Hearne 2006;Resende et al 2017). Conservation actions, however, are challenged by a number of basic limitations, including that the vast majority of the conservation units in the region lack planning, personnel, and the engagement of communities.…”

River Connectivity is Crucial for Safeguarding Biodiversity but May be Socially Overlooked. Insights From Spanish University Students

“…This method has been applied in different assessments (e.g. Moreno-Sanchez et al, 2012;Nicosia et al, 2014;Siew et al, 2015;Resende et al, 2017). It has been demonstrated that putting an economic value to ecosystem services serves to support the conservation of certain areas (Resende et al, 2017).…”

Economic valuation of the eco-systemic benefits derived from the environmental asset lake Laguna Santa Elena, through the multi-criteria analysis

“…In this method, experts are consulted in certain contingencies of what they are willing to pay or willing to accept to pay. In Latin America, the contingent valuation method for protected natural areas is exhaustively used (Resende et al, 2017).…”