Economic Value of Ecosystem Restoration for Sustainable Development: A Case Study of River Migori, Kenya
- July 10, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: Economics, IJRISS
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue VI, June 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186
Steven Owino Adongo1*, Samuel Otieno John2, Quinter Achieng Abuor3
1,2Moi University-Department of Agricultural Economics and Resource Management, Kenya
3University of Eldoret- Department of Natural Resource Management, Kenya
*Corresponding Author
Abstract: River resources are major sources of ecosystem services which provide social benefits and economic benefits to humanity. Increasing population levels, industrialization and intensified land use have posed threat to the rivers and have decreased their potentials. It is very necessary to evaluate the value that people attach for the restoration of such resources. This study therefore, used contingent valuation method (CVM) to estimate the economic value that households confer to the restoration of River Migori in Kenya for sustainable development. Payment card approach was used to elicit the residents’ WTP amounts. A sample of 80 respondents was obtained through multistage sampling technique who participated in the CVM survey. The study found out that the residents are willing to pay mean amount of Kshs. 5,086.25($48.25) and a total amount of Ksh. 406,900($3,859.27). The results of the Tobit regression found that the socio-economic factors which influence the individual willingness to pay amounts are gender, marital status, household size and income. In the main, the study found the general acceptance to restore the river resource which is relevant for policy formulation and which indicates that ecosystem restoration is a favored option for sustainable development.
Keywords: CVM, River Resource Restoration, WTP, Sustainable Development, Tobit Model
I. INTRODUCTION
The current upsurge in the degradation of natural ecosystem has become a global concern and has been a counter-movement against the drive to alleviate destructive impacts. The increase in human population has been credited with the responsibility of ecological degradation which the move for ecological restoration is attempting to mitigate. Changes in land use have also significantly led to challenges in the management of ecosystem services (Feld et al., 2011). The ecosystem services refer to the direct and indirect benefits that biodiversity and ecosystems provide to humans beings. Ecosystems offer a wide range of services from cultural, to regulatory and support services which directly or indirectly influences the well-being of humans through recreation, landscape values and fisheries maintenance (Vörösmarty et al., 2010). There has always been need to value these economic services due to the benefits that may be drawn from enacting public environmental policies.
