Economic valuation: Is the society willing to pay for conservation of Hoor-al-Azim Wetland?

Abstract

Examining society's preferences for any change in the status of wetlands, can translate their direct and indirect benefits into monetary values and provide useful information for the policy makers and planners. Hoor-al-Azim Wetland (also Hoor-al-Hoveizeh) is one of the four large wetlands with an area of over 125 thousand hectares located in Khuzestan province located in southwestern Iran on its border with Iraq. In this study, using market-pricing method, the direct use value of the wetland including agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fishing and hunting was calculated for the year 2015. Also, using choice modeling analysis, indirect use values, option values and non-use values of the wetland were estimated for the non-market attributes including natural landscape, ecological function, biodiversity and education services. The values obtained are indicative of the value that Hourol-Azim wetland has for the society. Therefore, any conservation program of the wetland is supported by the society.