Assessing the recreational value of Dareh Si Castle Park in Arasbaran forests using Contingent Valuation Method (CVM)

Document Type : Scientific article

Authors

1 Expert of Environmental Economics, Sustainable Development and Environmental Economics Bureau, Department of Environment

2 M.Sc. Environmental Economics, Faculty of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University

Abstract

Dareh Si is a forested valley located 3 km from southwest of Kalaybar county within the Arasbaran forests in the north of East Azerbayijan Province. High Biodiversity and ecological conditions that generally govern Arasbaran area had turned those forests to a unique biogeographic area of Iran. In this study, the recreational value of the Dareh Si Castle Park (as the minimum recreational value of Arasbaran forests) was estimated using Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). Questionnaires were used to collect the required information. Descriptive statistics of variables were introduced, followed by providing results of LOGIT models and expected WTP values. Analytical results indicated that for each visit to the park the visitors would like to pay 3908 IRR. Annually, 275000 individuals visit the park, which results in the estimated recreational value of 1.074 billion IRR when multiplied by the WTP (The base year was 2007). This was updated based on Consumer Price Indexes (CPI) announced by Central Bank of Islamic Republic of Iran in 2014, accounting for 4.14 billion IRR.

Keywords


- Ahoo Ghalandari, M., Haghsheno, M. and Molaei, M., 2008. Assessment of recreational and environmental capacities of Cheetgar forest park and suggestion of management strategies for it. The 2nd Professional Seminar on Environmental Management, Tehran, 21-22 May. 2008 (In Persian).
- Amirnejad, H., Khalilian, S. and Assareh, M.H., 2006. The preservation and use values determination of Sisangan Forest Park, Nowshahr, by using individual’s willingness-to-pay. Pajouhesh & Sazandegi, 72: 15-24 (In Persian).
- Anonymous, 2003. Protection Plan of North Arasbaran Forests (Volume 1). Published by Department of Natural Resources and Watershed Manegemnt of East Azerbayejan, Tabriz (In Persian).
- Anonymous, 2005. Cost assessment of environmental degradation. Published by Central Bank of Islamic Republic of Iran, Report No. 32043 (In Persian).
- Ashim, G.B., 2000. Green national accounting: why and how?. Environment and Development Economics, 5: 25-48.
- Bateman, I.J., Lovett, A.A. and Brainard, J.S., 2003. Applied Environmental Economics, A GIS Approach to Cost-Benefit Analysis. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, 358p.
- Clinch, J.P., 2000. Assessing the social efficiency of temperate-zone commercial forestry programmes: Ireland as a case study. Forest Policy and Economics, 1(3/4): 225-241.
- Danaeifar, I., Nemati, M., Mohammadi, H., Mohtasham Pour, M. and Ahmadi, M., 2015. Evaluating the recreational value of Mogarmon tourist area using contingent valuation method (CVM). Journal of Scientific Research and Development, 2(6): 139-144 (In Persian).
- Emami Meybodi, A. and Ghazi, M., 2008. Estimation of recreational value of Saee park using contingent valuation. Iranian Economic Research Quarterly, 36: 187-202 (In Persian).
- Firoozan, A., Hakimi Abed, M., Bahmanpour, H. and Hashemi, A., 2012. Estimated recreational value of Lahijan forest using by contingent valuation method. Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science, 7(9): 659-663 (In Persian).
- Greene, W.H., 2003. Econometric Analysis. Prentice Hall, New York, 1026p.
- Latifi Oskouee, N. and Esmaeili Sari, A., 2008. Economic-recreational valuation of Oanebn Ali forest park in Tabriz. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 10(4): 208-217 (In Persian).
- Lee, C. and Han, S., 2002. Estimating the use and preservation values of national parks tourism resources using a contingent valuation method. Tourism Management, 23: 531-540.
- Mojabi, S.M. and Monavari, S.M., 2005. Economic valuation of Pardisan and Lavizan parks. Environmental Sciences, 7: 63-72 (In Persian).
- Molaei, M., Yazdani, S., Sharzei G.A. and Alejandro Caparros, G., 2009. Estimation of protective value of Arasbaran forest ecosystems using contingent valuation. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 2(3): 37-64 (In Persian).
- Nakhaei, N., Mortazavi, S., Amirnejad, H. and Navazi, M., 2012. Estimation of the recreational value of Nour forest park using Individual willingness to pay. Journal of Forest and Wood Product, 65(2): 245-259 (In Persian).
- Ojea, E. and Loureirro, M., 2010. Valuing the recovery of over exploited fish stocks in the context of existence and option values. Marine Policy, 34: 514-521.
- Paroon, S. and Esmaeeli. A., 2008. Estimation of recreational value of mangrove forests in Hormozgan province. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 2(3): 105-118 (In Persian).
- Pishkari, K., 2006. Economic-recreational valuation of Taleghani forest park. M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, 156p (In Persian).
- Strange, N., Tarp, P., Helles, F. and Brodie, J.D., 1999. A four-stage approach to evaluate management alternatives in multiple-use forestry. Forest Ecology and Management, 124(1): 79-91.
- Torras, M., 2000. The total economic value of Amazonian deforestation, 1978-1993. Ecological Economics, 33: 283-297.