Title: An estimation of the social benefits of preserving biodiversity

Authors: Brigitte Desaigues, Dominique Ami

Addresses: University of Paris 1, 17 rue de la Sorbonne, 75231 Paris Cedex, 05, France. Ecole Normale Superieure de Cachan, 61 avenue President Wilson, 94235 Cachan Cedex, France

Abstract: In this paper, we try to evaluate the benefits of biodiversity restoration in the southwest of France, along the Garonne river. This particular riparian forest has been studied extensively by a group of ecologists belonging to the CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research) in Toulouse. A contingent valuation method was applied. A representative sample of 402 persons living in the surrounding region (the ||departements|| Tarn-et-Garonne and Haute-Garonne) was asked in face-to-face interviews about their willingness-to-pay for the restoration programme. Even if these persons are familiar with the good to value because they live close to the river bank (less than 30 km), it appears that they adopt a donation attitude more than a transaction attitude. Moreover, an open-ended question seems preferable to a close-ended question, in contrast to the recommendations made by the American administration.

Keywords: biodiversity; contingent valuation; social benefits.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2001.000971

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2001 Vol.1 No.1, pp.73-86

Published online: 18 Aug 2003 *

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