Author
BROADBENT, C.D. - Illinois State University | |
BROOKSHIRE, D.S. - University Of New Mexico | |
Goodrich, David - Dave | |
DIXON, M.D. - University Of South Dakota | |
BRAND, A. - Us Geological Survey (USGS) | |
THACHER, J. - University Of New Mexico | |
STEWART, S. - Adams State College |
Submitted to: Ecohydrology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2015 Publication Date: 10/15/2015 Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/6472367 Citation: Broadbent, C., Brookshire, D., Goodrich, D.C., Dixon, M., Brand, A., Thacher, J., Stewart, S. 2015. Valuing preservation and restoration alternatives for ecosystem services in the southwestern U.S. Ecohydrology. 8:851-862. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1628. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1628 Interpretive Summary: Conservation of freshwater systems in the semi-arid southwestern U.S. is a critical issue as these systems support habitat for wildlife and provide water for humans and agriculture. Economists have utilized a survey-based method to value non-marketed goods and services such as freshwater systems for much of the last four decades. Recently, several studies that have advocated for ecosystem accounting units to be created in valuing ecosystem services such as freshwater systems. Working with natural scientists a set of ecological end-products were developed for two river regions in the southwestern U.S. and are used in the survey to obtain a survey participant’s willingness to pay values for riparian restoration and preservation alternatives. The results demonstrate statistically significant preservation and restoration estimates for the Upper San Pedro and restoration estimates for the Middle Rio Grande. This demonstrates that the development of ecological end-products, grounded in natural science information are comprehensible to survey participants and can be used to establish monetary values for non-marketed goods like riparian condition and riparian bird populations. Technical Abstract: Conservation of freshwater systems in the semi-arid southwestern U.S. is a critical issue as these systems support habitat for wildlife and provide for consumptive use for humankind. Economists have utilized stated preference techniques to value non-marketed goods and services such as freshwater systems for much of the last four decades. Recently, Boyd and Banzhaf (2007) have advocated for ecosystem accounting units to be created in valuing ecosystem services such as freshwater systems. Working with natural scientists a set of ecological end-products were developed for two river regions in the southwestern U.S. and are used in a contingent valuation survey to obtain willingness to pay values for restoration and preservation alternatives to the regions. The results demonstrate statistically significant preservation and restoration estimates for the Upper San Pedro and restoration estimates for the Middle Rio Grande. This demonstrates that the development of ecological end-products, grounded in natural science information are comprehensible to survey participants. |