IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/shs/wpaper/1410.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Economic Valuation for a better Conservation: A Case Study of Kaziranga National Park, India

Author

Listed:
  • Raju Mandal

    (Department of Economics, Assam University)

  • Subrata Barman

    (Department of Economics, Nalbari College)

  • M. P. Bezbaruah

    (Department of Economics, Gauhati University)

Abstract

This paper makes an attempt to estimate the public and non-public good component values of Kaziranga National Park (KNP), a World Heritage Site in the northeast part of India, using contingent valuation method and individual travel cost method respectively. Such a decomposition of total value of an environmental amenity into public good and non-public good components can have significant implications for conservation policies. The results of our analysis led us to conclude that the conservation efforts in terms of resource allocation for KNP are by no means excessive as it amounted to only 3.52 % of total willingness to pay that was estimated in a very conservative way. The estimated consumers’ surplus, a proxy for use values of the park, turned out to be 8.86 % of estimated total economic values, and we suggest a same share of conservation outlay be recovered from the users. A relatively smaller proportion of current user charges in total conservation expenditure (5.87 %) provide a justification for an upward revision of the user charges for a better and more effective conservation in view of the ongoing deterioration of the heritage site from various sources.

Suggested Citation

  • Raju Mandal & Subrata Barman & M. P. Bezbaruah, 2014. "Economic Valuation for a better Conservation: A Case Study of Kaziranga National Park, India," Working Papers 1410, Sam Houston State University, Department of Economics and International Business.
  • Handle: RePEc:shs:wpaper:1410
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.shsu.edu/academics/economics-and-international-business/documents/wp_series/wp14-10_paper.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lopes, Adrian A., 2014. "Civil unrest and the poaching of rhinos in the Kaziranga National Park, India," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 20-28.
    2. Nick Hanley & Clive L. Spash, 1993. "Cost–Benefit Analysis and the Environment," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 205.
    3. Michael D. Creel & John B. Loomis, 1990. "Theoretical and Empirical Advantages of Truncated Count Data Estimators for Analysis of Deer Hunting in California," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 72(2), pages 434-441.
    4. Bharali, Abinash & Mazumder, Ritwik, 2012. "Application Of Travel Cost Method To Assess The Pricing Policy Of Public Parks: The Case Of Kaziranga National Park," Journal of Regional Development and Planning, Rajarshi Majumder, vol. 1(1), pages 41-50.
    5. Shaw, Daigee, 1988. "On-site samples' regression : Problems of non-negative integers, truncation, and endogenous stratification," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 211-223, February.
    6. Cameron, A Colin & Trivedi, Pravin K, 1986. "Econometric Models Based on Count Data: Comparisons and Applications of Some Estimators and Tests," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 1(1), pages 29-53, January.
    7. Adamowicz W. & Louviere J. & Williams M., 1994. "Combining Revealed and Stated Preference Methods for Valuing Environmental Amenities," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 271-292, May.
    8. Grogger, J T & Carson, Richard T, 1991. "Models for Truncated Counts," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 6(3), pages 225-238, July-Sept.
    9. Blackwell, Boyd, 2007. "The Value of a Recreational Beach Visit: An Application to Mooloolaba Beach and Comparisons with other Outdoor Recreation Sites," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 77-98, March.
    10. Timothy C. Haab & Kenneth E. McConnell, 2002. "Valuing Environmental and Natural Resources," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 2427.
    11. Whitehead, John C. & Haab, Timothy C. & Huang, Ju-Chin, 2000. "Measuring recreation benefits of quality improvements with revealed and stated behavior data," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 339-354, October.
    12. Steven T. Yen & Wiktor L. Adamowicz, 1993. "Statistical Properties of Welfare Measures from Count-Data Models of Recreation Demand," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 15(2), pages 203-215.
    13. Park, Timothy A. & Bowker, James Michael & Leeworthy, Vernon R., 2000. "Valuing Snorkeling Visits To The Florida Keys With Stated And Revealed Preference Models," Faculty Series 16713, University of Georgia, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    14. Chae, Dong-Ryul & Wattage, Premachandra & Pascoe, Sean, 2012. "Recreational benefits from a marine protected area: A travel cost analysis of Lundy," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 971-977.
    15. Trudy Ann Cameron, 1992. "Combining Contingent Valuation and Travel Cost Data for the Valuation of Nonmarket Goods," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 68(3), pages 302-317.
    16. Ali Dehlavi & Iftikhar Hussain Adil, "undated". "Valuing the Recreational Uses of Pakistan's Wetlands: An Application of the Travel Cost Method," Working papers 58, The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pascoe, Sean, 2019. "Recreational beach use values with multiple activities," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 137-144.
    2. Chin†Huang Huang, 2017. "Estimating the environmental effects and recreational benefits of cultivated flower land for environmental quality improvement in Taiwan," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 48(1), pages 29-39, January.
    3. Doshi, Amar & Pascoe, Sean, 2013. "Investigating the effects of sample heterogeneity on the travel cost model for coral diving in Southeast Asia," 2013 Conference (57th), February 5-8, 2013, Sydney, Australia 152146, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
    4. Lienhoop, Nele & Ansmann, Till, 2011. "Valuing water level changes in reservoirs using two stated preference approaches: An exploration of validity," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(7), pages 1250-1258, May.
    5. Isabel Mendes & Isabel Proença, 2005. "Estimating the Recreation Value of Ecosystems by Using a Travel Cost Method Approach," Working Papers Department of Economics 2005/08, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Universidade de Lisboa.
    6. Isabel Mendes & Isabel Proença, 2009. "Measuring the Social Recreation Per-Day Net Benefit of Wildlife Amenities of a National Park: A Count-Data Travel Cost Approach," Working Papers Department of Economics 2009/35, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Universidade de Lisboa.
    7. Mahadev Bhat & Ramachandra Bhatta & Mohamed Shumais, 2014. "Sustainable funding policies for environmental protection: the case of Maldivian atolls," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 16(1), pages 45-67, January.
    8. Rai, Rajesh Kumar & Dhakal, Arun & Khadayat, Madan S. & Ranabhat, Sunita, 2017. "Is collaborative forest management in Nepal able to provide benefits to distantly located users?," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 156-161.
    9. Hoyos, David & Riera, Pere, 2013. "Convergent validity between revealed and stated recreation demand data: Some empirical evidence from the Basque Country, Spain," Journal of Forest Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(3), pages 234-248.
    10. Pascoe, Sean & Doshi, Amar & Dell, Quentin & Tonks, Mark & Kenyon, Rob, 2014. "Economic value of recreational fishing in Moreton Bay and the potential impact of the marine park rezoning," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 53-63.
    11. Amoako-Tuffour, Joe & Martınez-Espineira, Roberto, 2008. "Leisure and the Opportunity Cost of Travel Time in Recreation Demand Analysis: A Re-Examination," MPRA Paper 8573, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Wai Soe Zin & Aya Suzuki & Kelvin S.-H. Peh & Alexandros Gasparatos, 2019. "Economic Value of Cultural Ecosystem Services from Recreation in Popa Mountain National Park, Myanmar: A Comparison of Two Rapid Valuation Techniques," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-20, December.
    13. Bowker, James Michael & Starbuck, C. Meghan & English, Donald B.K. & Bergstrom, John C. & Rosenberger, Randall S. & McCollum, Daniel W., 2009. "Estimating the Net Economic Value of National Forest Recreation: An Application of the National Visitor Use Monitoring Database," Faculty Series 59603, University of Georgia, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    14. Egan, Kevin & Herriges, Joseph, 2006. "Multivariate count data regression models with individual panel data from an on-site sample," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 567-581, September.
    15. Curtis, John & Stanley, Brian, 2015. "Water Quality and Recreational Angling Demand in Ireland," Papers WP521, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    16. Rowan, Emma & Longo, Alberto, 2009. "Enriching Stakeholder participation through Environmental Valuation; Eliciting Preferences for a National Park Designation in Northern Ireland," 83rd Annual Conference, March 30 - April 1, 2009, Dublin, Ireland 51071, Agricultural Economics Society.
    17. Rolfe, John & Gregg, Daniel, 2012. "Valuing Beach Recreation Across a Regional Area: The Great Barrier Reef in Australia," 2012 Conference (56th), February 7-10, 2012, Fremantle, Australia 124433, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
    18. Ovaskainen, Ville & Neuvonen, Marjo & Pouta, Eija, 2012. "Modelling recreation demand with respondent-reported driving cost and stated cost of travel time: A Finnish case," Journal of Forest Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 303-317.
    19. John Cullinan & Stephen Hynes & Cathal O’Donoghue, 2008. "Aggregating Consumer Surplus Values in Travel Cost Modelling Using Spatial Microsimulation and GIS Techniques," Working Papers 0807, Rural Economy and Development Programme,Teagasc.
    20. Ophelia Amo & Wisdom Akpalu & Daniel K. Twerefou & Godfred A. Bokpin, 2022. "Estimating the Economic Value of Health Walk on the Accra-Aburi Mountains Walkway in Ghana: An Individual Travel Cost Approach," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 9(1), pages 75-85, January.

    More about this item

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:shs:wpaper:1410. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Christian Raschke (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/deshsus.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.