6533b7cffe1ef96bd12583fc

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Monumental trees and their existence value: the case study of an Italian natural park

Antonio AsciutoMarcello D'acquistoEmanuele SchimmentiM. Di GesaroC. P. Di FrancoValeria Borsellino

subject

Contingent valuationeducation.field_of_studyResource (biology)010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciencesParkEcologyPopulationSoil ScienceForestry010501 environmental sciences01 natural sciencesExistence valueGiant hollieGeographyWillingness to payNatural parkSettore AGR/01 - Economia Ed Estimo RuraleNatural heritageContingent valuation methodWillingness to payeducationProtected areaSocioeconomicsSicily0105 earth and related environmental sciences

description

The paper deals with the evaluation of the existence value of monumental trees in a protected area. Financial resources to be destined for protection interventions have been decreasing more and more, with a high risk of losing this natural heritage. A Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) survey was carried out among the Madonie Park (Sicily, Italy) resident households to evaluate the existence value of monumental trees of the nature trail named "Piano Sempria-Piano Pomo", represented by a population of "Giant hollies" and by 7 other individual trees. These are the main results of the CVM survey: the overall response rate was 40%, individual average WTPs ( Willingness To Pay ) were €12.37 for the protection of the holly population and €13.45 for all the monumental trees along the nature trail. The median WTPs were €2.00 and €5.00, respectively. The aggregate WTP estimates for the Park residents range from a minimum of €10,520.40 to a maximum amount of €83,479.37 depending upon the investigated resource and the statistics considered.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2015-02-28Journal of Forest Science
https://doi.org/10.17221/86/2014-jfs