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Abstract
This paper presents preliminary findings on a cash and contingent valuation (cv) experiment. The study replicates major elements of an earlier (1990) experiment, which solicited hypothetical and actual donations to benefit instream flows for Montana fisheries. Extensions of the earlier work include: repeat contacts to increase response rate, follow-up of the contingent valuation question to explore respondent certainty, and several question format treatments (payment card, as in the original study, and dichotomous choice). The sample populations are subsamples of licensed Montana resident and nonresident anglers. Dillman mailing procedures (five contacts) were used to reach potential respondents. Treatments included a replication of the 1990 payment card (PC) question format (mailed to an initial 1,250 resident and 1,250 nonresidents respectively) and a dichotomous choice (DC) format (mailed to 1,250 nonresidents). Response rates were higher for the PC compared to the DC format and for the cv treatments compared to cash. The resident and nonresident angler populations are quite different, with nonresidents tending to be older, richer, more avid and specialized anglers, and more conservation-minded. For the PC treatments, cv donation amounts averaged about double the cash (actual) donation amounts for both subsamples. In constant 2005 dollars, the PC values comparing 1990 and 2005 are similar for resident respondents.
Parent Publication
Keywords
wilderness,
biodiversity,
protected areas,
economics,
subsistence,
tourism,
traditional knowledge,
community involvement,
policy,
stewardship,
education,
spiritual values
Citation
Duffield, John W.; Neher, Chris J.; Patterson, David A.; Champ, Patricia A. 2007. Field testing existence values for riparian ecosystems. In: Watson, Alan; Sproull, Janet; Dean, Liese, comps. Science and stewardship to protect and sustain wilderness values: Eighth World Wilderness Congress symposium; September 30-October 6, 2005; Anchorage, AK. Proceedings RMRS-P-49. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 550-557
