Valuation of the Aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão): perspectives on conservation

Abstract

Valuation of the Aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuvaAllemão ABSTRACT(Valuation of the aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão): Perspectives on conservation). Assigning an economic value to a given environmental asset has helped conservation proposals, and valuing these assets at levels comparable to market rates facilitates the establishment of environmental policies. Th us, this research aimed to assess the value of the species Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão, using the method of contingent valuation to determine the maximum willingness to pay of frequent visitors to the Caruaru Fair, located in northeastern Brazil. Our results show that most interviewees agreed to participate in proposals to support species conservation, although the average willingness to pay (WTP) was relatively low compared to other surveys conducted in Brazil. However, a signifi cant number of the interviewees had exceptionally low monthly incomes. Another relevant aspect of this research was the high number of people (98.5% of the informants) who were concerned about biodiversity conservation; many interviewees stated that the preservation of biodiversity is not a duty exclusive to the government or the people but rather a collective responsibility. Th erefore, these fi ndings may encourage the provision of public proposals for environmental conservation, along with other surveys or government actions funded by a society that has the willingness to pay for them. Th is study is the fi rst economic valuation of a caatinga species, many of which are under threat of extinction.

A contingent valuation study of buriti ( Mauritia flexuosa L.f.) in the main region of production in Brazil: is environmental conservation a collective responsibility?

“…The questionnaire was based on that used by Monteiro et al (2012) and was comprised of three parts: the first part intended to obtain socioeconomic data on the respondent; the second part aimed at formulating a hypothetical market, with a focus on familiarity with the species; and the third part quantified the maximum willingness to pay.…”

“…Respondents were asked about their maximum willingness to pay (WTP) per month (in Brazilian reais -R$) for conservation of the species and were informed that the amount would serve as a parameter for the adoption of policies for protecting the species (Adams et al 2008;Monteiro et al 2012). The monetary figures are cited in Brazilian currency, the real (R$), for sake of comparison since the exchange rate with the dollar during the period to which these figures apply fluctuated between R$ 3.5/US$ to around R$ 4.20/US$.…”

“…Persons over 18 years of age, residents in the municipality, and consumers or not of buriti products, and who claimed to know the species, were selected for interviewing. The sampling type was accidental according to the method described by Monteiro et al 2012. To calculate the sample size, we used the formula of Krejcie & Morgan (1970) with 95% confidence and a 5% error margin.…”

“…In the Federal District, Morgado et al (2011) reported that visitors to the Águas Claras Multiple Use Ecological Park were willing to contribute R$ 11.59 per month for its recovery and conservation. Likewise, an average annual amount of R$ 40.32 has been reported for the conservation of aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva) (Monteiro et al 2012).…”

“…The results are expressed as the willingness to pay (WTP) for conservation (Sattout et al 2007;Monteiro et al 2012). As examples, visitors to the Morro do Diabo State Park in the state of São Paulo, were willing to make a monthly payment of R$ 0.19 for its conservation (Adams et al 2008).…”