Abstract
AbstractGlobally, illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade can drive biodiversity loss. Understanding which product attributes consumers consider when deciding between products of threatened species or alternatives, is key for conservation interventions. Labeled Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs) are underutilized in wildlife trade literature but can aid this understanding. In labeled DCEs, the alternatives presented to respondents have specific names (e.g., paracetamol) as opposed to being generic bundles (e.g., option A). We used a labeled DCE to assess young adult preferences toward “cooling water” used to treat fever and heatiness (a traditional Chinese medicine state of illness) in Singapore. One popular cooling water contains saiga horn, made from Critically EndangeredSaiga tataricaantelope. Data from 639 university‐enrolled respondents were analyzed using latent class models. Middle‐ to high‐income Chinese Singaporeans were the respondents most likely to choose saiga horn. Overall, however, respondents significantly preferred lower price products sold in nearby outlets—suggesting that for young adults in Singapore, saiga horn cooling water may be substitutable if its physical and financial availability is reduced.
Highlights
The international trade in wildlife composes both legal and illegal markets, as well as sustainably and unsustainably harvested species ('t Sas-Rolfes, Challender, Hinsley, Veríssimo, & Milner-Gulland, 2019)
With continuing rapid economic growth, demand for wildlife products is expected to increase in the region (Nijman, 2010)
Labeled Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs) are a specific type of DCE in which the alternatives presented to respondents have specific names as opposed to being generic bundles
Summary
The international trade in wildlife composes both legal and illegal markets, as well as sustainably and unsustainably harvested species ('t Sas-Rolfes, Challender, Hinsley, Veríssimo, & Milner-Gulland, 2019). Unsustainable and illegal wildlife trade are leading to widespread environmental degradation and are recognized as key contributors to global species decline With continuing rapid economic growth, demand for wildlife products is expected to increase in the region (Nijman, 2010). There is a need to understand and manage regional demand for wildlife products. Conservationists have called for more demand-focused efforts to engender longerlasting change among consumers and better manage wildlife trade (Challender & MacMillan, 2014; Drury, 2011; Veríssimo, Challender, & Nijman, 2012). Effective interventions require foundational consumer research, which is often lacking (Greenfield & Veríssimo, 2018)
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