Does information matter in the value of a wetland?

Abstract

Non-market values, as measured by willingness to pay, are often required for integrated resource management projects where assessments include a range of social, financial and environmental indicators. In this study, improvements to the Tuckean wetland in New South Wales, Australia was presented as part of a discrete choice experiment. One treatment group was given more background information about the history and economy of the case study area, information about acid sulfate soils and a quiz. The other treatment group was given less background information and no quiz. The confidence intervals on willingness to pay estimates overlap suggesting more information has limited impact on willingness to pay estimates. Information influences perceptions of the survey and preference heterogeneity for some of the attributes. Our findings suggest that given the limited impact of background information, less information may be preferred due to cost considerations.

Keywords:

• stated preference
• information provision
• non-market values
• acid sulfate soils
• water quality

Disclosure statement

Marie-Chantale Pelletier is currently an employee of the Government of New South Wales. Work on the survey and the article were completed as part of her employment as a post-doctoral fellow at Southern Cross University.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant (LP130100498).