Benefit transfer estimation of willingness-to-pay for U.S. wetlands conservation

Abstract

This research provides a benefit transfer model of willingness-to-pay (WTP) for wetlands' conservation in the United States. The validity of the estimated wetland's willingness-to-pay values is also examined. This study extends and provides improvements to wetlands valuation literature by using information obtained from 21 study sites - 19 natural and 2 constructed. Benefit transfer values for wetlands are imputed to six policy wetland sites - 5 natural and 1 constructed. Regression results are reported for one of eight models estimated and examined with four validity tests. Based on these tests, transfer error adjustments of WTP estimates for policy sites are reported.