Social Monetary Valuation for Protecting Forests and Protected Wild Animals in North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

Many protected wild animal species are threatened with extinction because of degraded forest habitats. We conducted a monetary assessment of social responses to this issue in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Respondents were asked to determine a monetary value for forest services, and we measured willingness to pay (WTP) using the collection of compensation funds every year for five years. A descriptive statistical model, a correlation analysis, and a double-bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) model were used in this study. There were 92.1% of respondents who claimed to be aware of the environment, as well as 96% of protected animals, and 89.8% who agreed with the compensation fund. There is a need for current socialization of the environmental situation, and it is necessary to consider education and income factors for real actions in the future. The estimated monetary value probability for WTP was determined using accepting the median estimate of IDR 264,820 (USD 18.26). These results estimated the value of annual forest protection over five years.