Willingness to accept the natural regeneration of useful species in Benin, West Africa

Abstract

Reforestation is a solution to the challenge of forest ecosystem loss. The aim of this study was to assess the willingness to accept (WTA) the regeneration of natural species. It used a double helix model (Probit and truncated regression) combined with the Tobit model to analyze a sample of 1000 individuals. The results for individuals with ownership rights to their cultivated plots showed that the minimum amount a household is prepared to accept is 388,481 F CFA (approximately $USD 647.468) to promote reforestation. In addition, the average area a household is willing to set aside for reforestation is 2.38 ha. Several factors influence this decision, including ethnicity, gender, age, professional activity; and awareness of the importance of restoring the forest ecosystem. A greater likelihood of acceptance was observed in the communes of Kérou and Péhunco. Forests play an important role in the lives of local communities. This study provides insights into the social offer on the WTA the regeneration of natural species in order to improve current forest governance to reduce the effects of deforestation.Article HighlightsIn developing countries, area in ha can be used to measure the willingness to accept reforestation.Residents of the forest are willing to provide an average 2.38 ha per farm household for reforestation.Socio-cultural group, gender, age, professional activity and awareness of reforestation influence willingness to accept reforestation.