Informing ecosystem values of Loktak Lake in Manipur, India: an application of discrete choice experiments

Abstract

Context To inform the economic value of Loktak Lake, a Ramsar Site located in north-eastern India, and to suggest sustainable management and wise use of the Lake. Aim To find out the stakeholder preferences and the marginal willingness to pay over improved conservation and management of Loktak Lake. Method Choice Experiment Method, a stated preference method used for environmental valuation is employed in the study. Result The majority of the stakeholders have indicated their strong preference for effective conservation of the Lake with improvement in the fish catch and recreational sites as part of the improved conservation and management of the Lake. Conclusion The stakeholders’ preferences vary significantly in terms of the levels of improvement for different attributes. The high preference for increased fish catch and recreational sites indicated the importance of fish in the social and economic life of the households and scope of alternative employment opportunities respectively. But reduction of phumdi is not preferred as it is linked with the traditional fishing practices. Further, the local stakeholders do not prefer increased alternative employment opportunities, which may be attributed to the trust issues between the local stakeholders and wetland managers. Implication The livelihood options of the dependent communities should be integrated as part of the conservation and management policy of the Loktak Lake. It necessitates more inclusive wetland management or governance structure, and a framework needs to be developed with more local stakeholder participation and to develop site-specific employment generation or income generation schemes to reduce the dependence on the wetland. The participatory approach and continuous involvement of local communities in managing resources will help sustain the environment in the long run.