Economic valuation of the ecosystems of the protected natural area "Vilacota Maure", Tacna-Peru

Abstract

In this study, the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) has been used in arder to determine the willingness to payment (WTP) of citizens of the metropolitan area of Tacna city (Peru), for the potential constitution of a financia! fund that allows the design and implementation of activities for conservation ofbiodiversity and better availability of ecosystem services in the Vilacota Maure Regional Conservation Area (ACR-VM). To estímate the WTP, a LOGIT probabilistic model was used as a practica! instrument, supported by a theoretical model of economic utility (Hanneman, & Kanninen, 1998). Results indicate that both, the "in come" and an additional set of "appreciation" variables ( of citizens) about the ecosystem services, were significant determinants of the WTP. The average WTP was estimated at US $ 3 .4 /family /year, revealing that the citizens of metropolitan area ofTacna city could contribute an approximate of US $ 95,281.2 annually; amount that is 66% higher than what is normally budgeted by the Regional Government ofTacna (GRT) for administration ofthe protected natural area. This estimated contribution would occur despite the lack of income and acute unemployment, result of the 2020 COVID pandemic. Important conclusions are that economic valuation is a key element for the design and implementation of measures for conservation of biodiversity and improvement of ecosystems; the regional budget normally allocated is insufficient for an adequate conservation of the natural area.