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The Hambach Forest in the German Debate on Climate Protection: Is There a Symbolic Value beyond the Environmental Value?

In: Sustainable Rural Development Perspective and Global Challenges

Author

Listed:
  • Meike Henseleit
  • Sandra Venghaus
  • Wilhelm Kuckshinrichs

Abstract

In the late summer of 2018, the Hambach Forest (North Rhine Westphalia/ Germany) appeared prevalently in the media due to massive protests against its clearance for lignite mining with for the power generation. Because coal power as a form of energy supply is extremely climate intensive, the Hambach Forest rapidly became a symbol of the fight against climate change and the ongoing destruction of nature and its resources for economic reasons. Due to the extra-ordinarily prominent role of the Hambach Forest in the public opinion across Germany, this research addresses values of the forest to the population in monetary terms as well as the underlying factors that determine those values. For the analysis, a contingent valuation survey was conducted in December 2019 in Germany. The proposed amounts for the preservation of the Hambach Forest are mostly in accordance with previous evaluation studies of woods and forests, although this time almost only passive-use values are decisive. Further, a conversion of the WTP values to the area of the Hambach Forest results in an extra-ordinarily high per-hectare value of about 3.6 million. Thus, the symbolic value of the forest is remarkable and should be considered in future political decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Meike Henseleit & Sandra Venghaus & Wilhelm Kuckshinrichs, 2023. "The Hambach Forest in the German Debate on Climate Protection: Is There a Symbolic Value beyond the Environmental Value?," Chapters, in: Orhan Ozcatalbas (ed.), Sustainable Rural Development Perspective and Global Challenges, IntechOpen.
    • Handle: RePEc:ito:pchaps:255551
    DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.101597
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    symbolic value; environmental valuation; climate movement;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development

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