The estimation of ecosystem services' value in the region of Misi Rural Development Project: Results from a contingent valuation survey

Abstract

Stated and revealed methods are widely used in the estimation of non-use benefits of ecosystem services and public goods. This paper presents an application of survey based on contingent valuation method for valuation of the non-use benefits of improvement in ecosystem services through Misi Rural Development Project (MRDP), which is integrated with environmental considerations, in Bursa-Turkey. MRDP objects to improve various non-use benefits such as forest and river ecosystems, which residents do not directly purchase in any markets for goods and services. The estimated value of MRDP was per head annually 67.94 USD. Generalizing this value to the households living around the Misi yields 2,306,474 USD/Year. The present value willingness to pay for 20 years is 19,636,313.00 and 461,294.80 USD using discount rates of 10% and 5%. Although this analysis supports the ensuring sustainability of ecosystem service in Misi settlement, multi-agency management systems have caused some issues in rural settlements based on natural resources' productivity in Turkey. Therefore, rural development projects, integrated with environmental considerations like MRDP will be a good chance to provide the sustainability of ecosystem services especially in developing countries.