Assessing Tradeoffs between Development and Conservation: A Case of Land Use Change in a National Park of Korea

Miju Kim,Chi-Ok Oh,Sangkwon Lee

doi:10.3390/land10020152

Miju Kim, Chi-Ok Oh + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/land10020152

Copy DOI

Abstract

Protected areas are places that provide diverse ecosystem services, including cultural ecosystem services. At the same time, the development and unbalanced use of natural resources in protected areas often create environmental threats and social conflicts. This study estimates the economic value of environmental consequences derived from the construction of an airport in a national park in Korea. We employ a discrete choice experiment to assess economic values and consider a key part of the tradeoffs derived from the airport construction at Heuksan Island of Dadohae Marine National Park in Korea. The results show that social benefits related to improved accessibility and tourism opportunities would be generated but at substantial costs resulting from environmental degradation and the reduction in bird populations. A segmentation analysis also reveals that heterogeneous preferences exist based on variables reflecting individuals’ visit experiences and trust in the government. The findings indicate that considering environmental impacts is important when evaluating the feasibility of a development project in a protected area.

Highlights

The choice between conserving and developing protected areas is a critical issue in environmental management
The additional tourism opportunities attribute had three levels and two dummy coded variables were estimated using the other level as the base
This study assessed a major part of the economic costs and benefits derived from the construction of an airport in a national park

Summary

Introduction

The choice between conserving and developing protected areas is a critical issue in environmental management. Protected areas such as national parks and reserves have been designated to conserve nature and to provide environmental benefits that enhance the quality of life in that community [1]. While acknowledging the importance of conservation, many people maintain that developing protected areas can bring economic benefits to a community and can alleviate poverty [2]. Human activities have led to environmental degradation and threats [3] and the designation of protected areas is often regarded as an important instrument for protecting biodiversity and habitats [4,5]

Methods

Results

Conclusion