Whian Whian – State Forest or National Park: Community Attitudes and Economic Values

Abstract

A contingent valuation study was undertaken to determine the level of community support for the dedication of Whian Whian State Forest in north-east NSW as a new national park. The study investigated the relative importance of a number of forest uses and the values held by the respondents that were important in determining their bid. Although this research was conducted during the final phase of the Comprehensive Regional Assessment of the forests of the Upper North East of New South Wales, there are a number of discrepancies between the findings reported here and the outcomes of the assessment. This suggests that the determination of the Regional Forest Agreements used criteria other than biophysical and socio-economic attributes. This study identified the ecosystem functions of water catchment protection and provision of habitat for endangered species as the two most important uses of Whian Whian State Forest. Training in sustainable forestry was rated extremely important in more cases (25.3%) than all other timber industry related uses presented. Respondents reflected a well- defined set of values relating to environmental and equity issues and placed less emphasis on issues relating to productive uses. Bequest, existence and non-consumptive use values were the strongest values relating to Whian Whian SF. The mean willingness to pay of respondents for the non-consumptive use and non- use values of Whian Whian SF was $ 18.89 per annum for three years, whilst the median was $10.00 per annum.