Non-market Values of wetlands : A choice modelling study of wetlands in the Upper South East of South Australia and the Murrumbidgee River floodplain in New South Wales

Abstract

Community decisions about wetland management are based on weighing up the benefits and costs of alternative wetland management strategies. But not all wetland benefits and costs are easily compared as wetlands provide both monetary and non-monetary benefits. In this Research Report, estimation of non-monetary values are described for two case study areas, the Upper South East (USE) of South Australia and the Murrumbidgee River Floodplain (MRF). Estimation of non-monetary benefits of management changes commenced with selection of a methodology appropriate to the types of values being considered. Implementation of the selected methodology, Choice Modelling, is described including the goals of the valuation exercise, questionnaire design and survey management. Model results are used to estimate sample non-monetary values for the two case study areas. Significant nonmonetary values are reported for wetland management changes in both the USE and MRF case study areas. These non-monetary values provide a basis for the estimation of the net benefit from changing wetland management in the next two Research Reports. Show more