Willingness to Pay for Conservation of the Asian Elephant in Nakai Nam Theun National Protected Area in Laos

The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is an ecologically important species in the forest ecosystem of Laos. The species is endangered and on the edge of extinction owing to illegal hunting, destruction of elephant habitat, and forest degradation. Payment for conservation could be one of the potential...

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Main Authors: Chanthasene, S., Phimmavong, S., Baral, H., Wayakone, S., Wanneng, P.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Scientific Research Publishing, Inc. 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/120280
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author Chanthasene, S.
Phimmavong, S.
Baral, H.
Wayakone, S.
Wanneng, P.
author_browse Baral, H.
Chanthasene, S.
Phimmavong, S.
Wanneng, P.
Wayakone, S.
author_facet Chanthasene, S.
Phimmavong, S.
Baral, H.
Wayakone, S.
Wanneng, P.
author_sort Chanthasene, S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is an ecologically important species in the forest ecosystem of Laos. The species is endangered and on the edge of extinction owing to illegal hunting, destruction of elephant habitat, and forest degradation. Payment for conservation could be one of the potential mechanisms to enhance Asian Elephant conservation efforts. This paper aims to estimate local residents’ Willingness to Pay (WTP) for conservation of the Asian elephant in Nakai-Nam Theun National Park (NNT NP) in Laos, which is a recognised “Key Biodiversity Area” within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire survey, with a total of 490 respondents living adjacent to the NNT NP, covering seven villages in two districts in Khammouane Province, Laos. The study employed the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) to identify the factors affecting WTP. The results showed that respondents were willing to pay a significant amount of money in the form of increasing activities for conservation and protection of NNT NP. Mean WTP for the conservation of the Asian elephant was $8 per household per year. Approximately 62% (303 local people) of the respondents were willing to pay for the conservation of the Asian elephant. The research findings will be helpful for planners and decision makers to formulate better future strategies for conservation of Asian elephants in Laos and in similar developing countries in the Southeast Asia region.
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spelling CGSpace1202802023-03-18T04:55:40Z Willingness to Pay for Conservation of the Asian Elephant in Nakai Nam Theun National Protected Area in Laos Chanthasene, S. Phimmavong, S. Baral, H. Wayakone, S. Wanneng, P. willingness to pay elephants ecosystem services biodiversity conservation The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is an ecologically important species in the forest ecosystem of Laos. The species is endangered and on the edge of extinction owing to illegal hunting, destruction of elephant habitat, and forest degradation. Payment for conservation could be one of the potential mechanisms to enhance Asian Elephant conservation efforts. This paper aims to estimate local residents’ Willingness to Pay (WTP) for conservation of the Asian elephant in Nakai-Nam Theun National Park (NNT NP) in Laos, which is a recognised “Key Biodiversity Area” within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire survey, with a total of 490 respondents living adjacent to the NNT NP, covering seven villages in two districts in Khammouane Province, Laos. The study employed the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) to identify the factors affecting WTP. The results showed that respondents were willing to pay a significant amount of money in the form of increasing activities for conservation and protection of NNT NP. Mean WTP for the conservation of the Asian elephant was $8 per household per year. Approximately 62% (303 local people) of the respondents were willing to pay for the conservation of the Asian elephant. The research findings will be helpful for planners and decision makers to formulate better future strategies for conservation of Asian elephants in Laos and in similar developing countries in the Southeast Asia region. 2022-05-01 2022-07-25T06:08:22Z 2022-07-25T06:08:22Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/120280 en Open Access Scientific Research Publishing, Inc. Chanthasene, S. , Phimmavong, S. , Baral, H. , Wayakone, S. and Wanneng, P., 2022. Willingness to Pay for Conservation of the Asian Elephant in Nakai Nam Theun National Protected Area in Laos. Open Journal of Business and Management, 10, 1167-1179. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojbm.2022.103063.
spellingShingle willingness to pay
elephants
ecosystem services
biodiversity conservation
Chanthasene, S.
Phimmavong, S.
Baral, H.
Wayakone, S.
Wanneng, P.
Willingness to Pay for Conservation of the Asian Elephant in Nakai Nam Theun National Protected Area in Laos
title Willingness to Pay for Conservation of the Asian Elephant in Nakai Nam Theun National Protected Area in Laos
title_full Willingness to Pay for Conservation of the Asian Elephant in Nakai Nam Theun National Protected Area in Laos
title_fullStr Willingness to Pay for Conservation of the Asian Elephant in Nakai Nam Theun National Protected Area in Laos
title_full_unstemmed Willingness to Pay for Conservation of the Asian Elephant in Nakai Nam Theun National Protected Area in Laos
title_short Willingness to Pay for Conservation of the Asian Elephant in Nakai Nam Theun National Protected Area in Laos
title_sort willingness to pay for conservation of the asian elephant in nakai nam theun national protected area in laos
topic willingness to pay
elephants
ecosystem services
biodiversity conservation
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/120280
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