Valoración económica ambiental del recurso hídrico de la cuenca del río Chirimayo, en los distritos de Chadín y Paccha - Perú

Abstract

The economic environmental valuation is a tool that assigns monetary value to ecosystem services, regardless of whether they have market prices or not. The aim of this research was to evaluate the influence of socioeconomic and environmental factors on the economic environmental valuation of water resources from the Chirimayo River basin in the districts of Chadín and Paccha (Cajamarca - Peru), and to estimate the average monthly willingness to pay by users. The contingent valuation method and Logit econometric model were used, with questionnaires and interviews administered to 285 users out of a population of 1104. Results show that the majority of users are between 46 and 60 years old, male, married, with 4 family members, primary education, farmers, with incomes between 200 and 500 soles; they use the water resource for human consumption, which is of good quality, available 24 hours a day, although the volume has decreased, and they are willing to pay for it. It is concluded that economic valuation is positively influenced by gender, level of education, and hours of service; thus, an increase in one unit of these factors leads to a greater willingness to pay. However, age and marital status have a negative influence, as an increase in age decreases the willingness to pay, and singles show less willingness. On average, 75.8% of the population is willing to pay 1.60 soles per month.