Contingent Valuation of Yangtze Finless Porpoises in Poyang Lake, China

ISBN-13: 9789400795716 / Angielski / Miękka / 2014 / 234 str.

Yanyan Dong

Opis

This book presents the findings of the study, and offers analysis of both its methodological and policy-related implications. On the methodology side, it assesses and validates the valuation workshop approach; appraises the effect of distance on willingness to pay and the influence of the respondents' ability to pay. From a policy perspective, the book examines the attitudes and preference of respondents on trade-offs between economic growth and ecological use.

Spis treści

1. Introduction

        1.1 Problem Statement

        1.2 Goal of the Study

        1.3 Structure of the Thesis

 

2. Background Information of Poyang Lake and Yangtze Finless Porpoises

            2.1 Introduction to Poyang Lake

                        2.1.1 Geographical Situation

        2.1.2 The Largest Freshwater Lake in China

        2.1.3 Landscape - "A Line at Low Water, An Ocean at Flood"

        2.1.4 Evolutional History

        2.1.5 An Important International Wetland

            2.2 Uses of Poyang Lake

                    2.2.1 Industrial Water Use

                    2.2.2 Agricultural Water Use

                    2.2.3 Fisheries         

                    2.2.4 Ecotourism

                    2.2.5 "The World of White Cranes" and "The Kingdom of Rare Birds"

                    2.2.6 Fish Source

                    2.2.7 The Best Habitat of Yangtze Finless Porpoises

        2.3 Use Conflicts in Poyang Lake

                    2.3.1 Conflicts Resulting from Sand Mining

                    2.3.2 Conflicts from Building Levees

                    2.3.3 Conflicts with Respect to Water Quantity and Quality

        2.4 Yangtze Finless Porpoises

                    2.4.1 Distribution and Category of Finless Porpoises

                    2.4.2 Biology and Behavior

                    2.4.3 Migration

                    2.4.4 Protection Status of Yangtze Finless Porpoises

                    2.4.5 Threats in Poyang Lake

                    2.4.6 Protection of Yangtze Finless Porpoises

        2.5 Conclusion

 

3. Theoretical Background on Economic Valuation

        3.1 Introduction: Reasons for Economic Valuation

        3.2 Market failure on the Protection of Yangtze Finless Porpoises

                    3.2.1 The Theory of Market Failure

                    3.2.2 Public Goods

                    3.2.3 Property Rights

                    3.2.4 Externality

        3.3 Total Economic Value

                    3.3.1 Concept of Total Economic Value (TEV)

                    3.3.2 The Total Economic Value (TEV) of Yangtze Finless Porpoises

                    3.3.3 Relationship between Values and Valuation Technique

        3.4 Economic Valuation Methods

                    3.4.1 Introduction

                    3.4.2 Non-Market Demand Approaches

                    3.4.3 Revealed Preference Methods

                    3.4.4 Stated Preference Methods

                    3.4.5 Conclusion: Choice of Contingent Valuation Method as the Adequate Method for the                              Evaluation of the YFPs

        3.5 Theoretical Basis of Contingent Valuation Method

                    3.5.1 Welfare Measures

                    3.5.2 Willingness to Pay

                    3.5.3 Willingness to Accept

        3.6 Challenges Faced by Contingent Valuation

                    3.6.1 Overview of Main Challenges

                    3.6.2 Distance Decay as a Specific Challenge

        3.7 Conclusion

 

4. Questionnaire Development

        4.1 Focus Group

                    4.1.1 Introduction to Focus Group           

                    4.1.2 Implementation of Focus Groups in China

                    4.1.3 Analysis and Interpretation of Focus Group Findings

                    4.1.4 Interviews with Experts

                    4.1.5 Summary

        4.2 Questionnaire Structure

                    4.2.1 Information Folder

                    4.2.2 Designing a Hypothetical Market

                    4.2.3 Obtaining WTP

                    4.2.4 Validation of WTP

        4.3 Pre-Test and Modification of Questionnaire

                    4.3.1 Characterization of the Pre-Test

                    4.3.2 Findings from the Pre-Test Survey

        4.4 Implementation of the Questionnaire

                    4.4.1 Target Population

                    4.4.2 Sampling Frame

                    4.4.3 Sampling Design

                    4.4.4 Sample Size

        4.5 Survey Method

                    4.5.1 Traditional Survey Methods

                    4.5.2 Deliberative Group-Based Approaches

                    4.5.3 Comparison and Choice of Survey Methods

5. Results

        5.1 Sample Characteristics

                    5.1.1 Gender Distribution

                    5.1.2 Age Distribution

                    5.1.3 Income Distribution

                    5.1.4 Educational Level

                    5.1.5 Family Size

                    5.1.6 Membership of Environmental Groups

                    5.1.7 Summary

        5.2 Attitudinal Questions

                    5.2.1 Attitude on General Issues on Environment and Wildlife

                    5.2.2 Comments on Information Folder

                    5.2.3 Individuals’ Views toward the Porpoise Conservation Project

                    5.2.4 Individuals’ Preference on Different Uses of Porpoise Conservation

        5.3 Validity of Responses

                    5.3.1 Non-respondents and Non-responses

                    5.3.2 Protest Responses

                    5.3.3 Strategic Bias

                    5.3.4 Embedding Effect

                    5.3.5 Warm Glow

                    5.3.6 Summary of Invalid Responses

                    5.3.7 Valid WTP Responses and Attached Statements

        5.4 Quantitative Analysis

                    5.4.1 Comparison of Socio-economic Characteristics

                    5.4.2 Descriptive Statistics

                    5.4.3 Theoretical Validity of WTP

        5.5 Conclusion

 

6. Discussion

        6.1 Difficulties with the Design of Contingent Valuation Studies in China

                    6.1.1 Recruitment and Implementation of Workshops

                    6.1.2 Protest Responses

                    6.1.3 Embedding Effect: Finless Porpoises versus Biodiversity

        6.2 Distance Effect

        6.3 Different WTP in Germany and China

        6.4 Summary

 

7. Conclusions

        7.1 General Conclusions

                    7.1.1 Adequacy of the Valuation Workshop

                    7.1.2 Absence of Distance Decay

                    7.1.3 Important Role of Budget Constraints

                    7.1.4 Policy-related Implications

        7.2 Recommendations for Future Research

 

Appendix A: Demographic characteristics of participants in Focus Groups

Appendix B: Summary of Focus Group Findings

Appendix C: Summary of Interviews with Experts

Appendix D: Questionnaire

 

Index

Appendix B: Summary of Focus Group Findings

Appendix C: Summary of Interviews with Experts

Appendix D: Questionnaire

 

Index

Appendix C: Summary of Interviews with Experts

Appendix D: Questionnaire

 

Index

Appendix D: Questionnaire

 

Index

Blurb

Yangtze Finless Porpoises (YFPs), the only fresh-water adapted porpoises in the world, are endemic to the Yangtze River system, including Poyang Lake. Their population is rapidly decreasing, under threats from illegal fishing and overfishing, dredging, intensive shipping traffic and pollution from agriculture and industry. Since 1996, they have been classified as endangered on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Now a new threat looms, in the form of a Poyang Lake hydroelectricity project being planned by the government of Jiangxi Province. This will cut off their migration route and fragment their habitat. Today, it is more urgent than ever to take measures of protection for YFPs. One possibility for protecting YFPs is a nature reserve located in Poyang Lake. An economic analysis has been conducted to determine whether a nature reserve is worthwhile. Using the contingent valuation approach, the study aims to estimate the benefits of the porpoises by asking individuals’ willingness to pay for the porpoise conservation project. The valuation workshop method, a group-based approach which can inform and motivate respondents so that they thoroughly consider the questions, was chosen to help respondents construct their preference. Valuation workshops were successfully organized and data and information were collected. This book presents the findings of the study, and offers analysis of both its methodological and policy-related implications. On the methodology side, it assesses and validates the valuation workshop approach; appraises the effect of distance on willingness to pay and the influence of the respondents’ ability to pay. From a policy perspective, the book examines the attitudes and preference of respondents on trade-offs between economic growth and ecological use. This is the only available study offering economic perspective on Yangtze finless porpoises and the environmentally sensitive Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake as well as the last basin of clean water in China.