Abstract
Using the contingent valuation method and the Heckman two-stage model, we explore residents’ willingness to accept (WTA) compensation and their WTA level for ecological conservation compensation in the upstream of the Ganjiang River Basin in China. The findings reveal that 86.26% of the respondents are willing to accept compensation, and the average compensation level is ¥789.60/household per year. The residents’ gender, annual disposable income, residential location, decision on whether or not the watershed environment is important, and their satisfaction with water quality and quantity are significantly related to their WTA. The influencing factors that significantly affect compensation level are residents’ occupation, educational background, annual disposable income, family size, residential location, decision on whether or not the watershed environment is important, and their satisfaction with water quality and quantity. The results of this empirical research have important policy implications: the government should strengthen advocacy and education of watershed ecological environment protection, intensify farming and other agricultural activities, establish a differentiated and diversified compensation strategy, so as to protect and improve the ecological environment of the Ganjiang River Basin.
Highlights
Amid rapid growth of China’s economy, there are increasingly serious problems of water resource shortages and ecological deterioration of the country’s watershed environment [1], which has a profound impact on humans [2]
We found that residents did not need compensation as they already benefited from the improvement of the watershed ecological environment
We propose the following five targeted policy recommendations based on the research results, so as to better preserve and ameliorate the ecological environment of the Ganjiang River Basin
Summary
Amid rapid growth of China’s economy, there are increasingly serious problems of water resource shortages and ecological deterioration of the country’s watershed environment [1], which has a profound impact on humans [2]. The Ganjiang River Basin suffers from ecological environmental problems, including water quality deterioration and water quantity fluctuation (Figure 1). Sustainability 2019, 11, 6138 Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 18 2 of 18. LAPlethoopuleg'sh Gthoevaefronrmemenent tiinonJaendudaorcyu2m01en8,tsstcalaterdifiethdat theactotlhogeilcoawl ceormrepaecnhseastinoenedshtooupldaybfeorimpproletemcteinntgedthfeorectohleogGicaanljieannvgirRoinvmerenBtasoifnth[1e3u].pApeltrhroeuagchhetsh,e thaefocroemmpenentisoanteiodndsotcaunmdaerndtsisclacarilfciuedlatthedatbthaseeldowonerwreaatcehreesnnveierodntmo penatyafloqruparloittye,ctfionrgesttheeceocloolgoigciaclal queanlvitiyr,oannmdewntatoerf rtehseouurcpepsemr arneaagchemese,ntth, beuctoigmnpoernessathtieonwislltianngdnaersds toisacccaelcputl(aWteTdAb) acosemdpeonnsawtioanter environmental quality, forest ecological quality, and water resources management, but ignores the willingness to accept (WTA) compensation of the direct stakeholders (watershed residents) of the Sustainability 2019, 11, 6138 of the direct stakeholders (watershed residents) of the river basin. The effects of the watershed ecological compensation policy and watershed ecological environmental conservation efforts are greatly weakened. We explore the willingness of the river basin stakeholders to compensate the residents in the upper reaches, so as to provide a theoretical basis for further improvement of the watershed compensation criteria
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