The contingent valuation for the preservation of three urban green parks

Abstract

Urban green parks, considered as natural resources, should be seen as strategic elements for conservation of natural resources, socialization, health and well-being, since it significantly influences the local economy. The research sought to quantify the Willingness to Pay (WTP) for environmental conservation and its influencing factors, indicated by the population using three urban parks in Campo Grande, MS, Brazil: Parque das Nações Indígenas (PNI); Parque Ayrton Senna (PAS); and Parque Matas do Segredo (PMS). It was a quantitative approach, interviewing 824 users from the three parks object of the research, highlighting those who know and frequent the parks. A structured questionnaire was used, divided into groups of variables to identify the perceptions of socioeconomic, maintenance and preservation of parks, satisfaction with the equipment offered, and with the environmental preservation and maintenance of the Parks. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used to compare the independence between the proportions obtained for each Park, at the level of significance at p <0.05, bilateral. A binary logistic regression analysis of discrete variables was also performed to identify the factors that may influence the user of the Park to WTP of environmental conservation. As a result, it was identified that there is satisfaction in the Parks, in relation to the questions: place for social interaction, appearance, attractiveness, calm, cozy, beautiful and clean environment. In relation to WTP, it was identified that the people who attend the Parks are willing to pay for the protection and environmental conservation of these. This article has its academic importance in contributing to the knowledge of the importance of Urban Green Parks, as well as providing indications for the evolution of others socio-environmental research projects. Under the business scope, it provides data and conclusions for the direction of public policies enlist the population and entrepreneurs to strengthen the preservation and maintenance.