Abstract
River networks have experienced serious degradation because of rapid urbanization and population growth in developing countries such as China, and the protection of these networks requires the integration of evaluation with ecology and economics. In this study, a structured questionnaire survey of local residents in Shanghai (China) was conducted in urban and suburban areas. The study examined residents’ awareness of the value of the river network, sought their attitude toward the current status, and employed a logistic regression analysis based on the contingent valuation method (CVM) to calculate the total benefit and explain the socioeconomic factors influencing the residents’ willingness to pay (WTP). The results suggested that residents in Shanghai had a high degree of recognition of river network value but a low degree of satisfaction with the government’s actions and the current situation. The study also illustrated that the majority of respondents were willing to pay for river network protection. The mean WTP was 226.44 RMB per household per year. The number of years lived in Shanghai, the distance from the home to the nearest river, and the amount of the bid were important factors that influenced the respondents’ WTP. Suggestions for comprehensive management were proposed for the use of policy makers in river network conservation.
Highlights
A river network is a general feature of landscapes in Nature
To provide better protection for the river network, the benefits or services provided by the river network need to be evaluated, and the attitudes of local communities that are very significant for the conservation of the river network need to be identified
In the formal survey, a dichotomous-choice contingent valuation method (DC-CVM) format was employed, because it is more cognitively manageable and more similar to the real buying scenario compared to payment card (PC) format [13,40,41,42]
Summary
A river network is a general feature of landscapes in Nature. It is formed by the river mainstreams and their tributaries in the river basin. The number and structure of river networks result from the interaction between the environment and human activity. River networks meet people’s daily needs, improve water quality, protect against floods, and even furnish an extraordinary regional environmental and cultural landform [1]. 1980s has reshaped the landscape in both urban and suburban areas, and the Chinese river network has suffered extensive destruction. This destruction has become a problem that demands a prompt solution. To provide better protection for the river network, the benefits or services provided by the river network need to be evaluated, and the attitudes of local communities that are very significant for the conservation of the river network need to be identified
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