Resource Ecology

Public Preference Heterogeneity for Wetland Ecosystem Services Based on a Latent Class Model

Expand
  • 1. Department of Management Science and Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China;
    2. International Education Institute, Shandong Institute of Business and Technology, Yantai 264005, China

Received date: 2017-04-26

  Revised date: 2017-11-27

  Online published: 2018-05-20

Supported by

National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 71171044; Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China, No. ZR2016GM21.

Abstract

Recently, preference heterogeneity of the public has become an important indicator in the studies of ecosystem services valuation. This paper aims to assist policymakers in formulating efficient and sustainable management policies of wetland by investigating the public preferences for ecosystem services of Sanjiang Plain Wetland. A choice experiment (CE) is employed to elicit the ecological preferences and willingness to pay of the public, and a latent class model (LCM) is established to investigate heterogeneity of public preferences for wetland ecosystem services. The results reveal the heterogeneities in public preferences for diverse wetland ecosystem services in Sanjiang Plain Wetland. Respondents who prefer protecting resources account for the majority of the total population (68.78%), respondents who prefer protecting landscape are willing to pay more for the nature landscape, and price sensitive respondents have obvious lower willingness to pay than the other two groups of people. Through analysis of the latent classes, it is observed that the socio-economic and environmental awareness of the public has a significant effect on their preferences. Respondents with higher education prefer resource conservation, while respondents with higher incomes and those who have travelled more times to Sanjiang Plain Wetland prefer landscape protection. Also, the environmental awareness of the price-sensitive respondents is relatively low. This research offers a new approach to study public preferences for wetland ecosystem services, and the results provide a reference for relevant environmental policy formulation.

Cite this article

MAO Bi-qi, AO Chang-lin, NING Jia-jing, GAO Qin . Public Preference Heterogeneity for Wetland Ecosystem Services Based on a Latent Class Model[J]. JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES, 2018 , 33(5) : 747 -760 . DOI: 10.11849/zrzyxb.20170382

References

[1] RANDER L, BROUWER R, WAGTENDONK A.Economic valuation of regulating services provided by wetlands in agricultural landscapes: A meta-analysis[J]. Ecological Engineering, 2013, 56(7): 89-96.
[2] GOPAL B.A conceptual framework for environmental flows assessment based on ecosystem services and their economic valuation[J]. Ecosystem Services, 2016, 21: 53-58.
[3] 崔丽娟, 庞丙亮, 李伟, 等. 扎龙湿地生态系统服务价值评价[J]. 生态学报, 2016, 36(3): 828-836.
[CUI L J, PANG B L, LI W, et al.Evaluation of ecosystem services in the Zhalong Wetland. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2016, 36(3): 828-836. ]
[4] 李文华. 中国当代生态学研究(生态系统管理卷) [M]. 北京: 科学出版社, 2013.
[LI W H.Modern Ecology Research in Chinese (Ecosystem Management). Beijing: Science Press, 2013. ]
[5] TRAIN K E.Recreation demand models with taste differences over people[J]. Land Economics, 1998, 74(2): 230-239.
[6] DIAS V, BELCHER K.Value and provision of ecosystem services from prairie wetlands: A choice experiment approach[J]. Ecosystem Services, 2015, 15: 35-44.
[7] 谭秋成. 度量生态服务价值的选择实验: 方法介绍及案例研究[J]. 中国人口·资源与环境, 2016, 26(7): 46-52.
[TAN Q C.Choice experiment as a valuation method for ecosystem services: Introduction and a case study. China Population, Resources and Environment, 2016, 26(7): 46-52. ]
[8] PRICE J I, JANMAAT J, SUGDEN F, et al.Water storage systems and preference heterogeneity in water-scarce environments: A choice experiment in Nepal’s Koshi River Basin[J]. Water Resources & Economics, 2016, 13: 6-18.
[9] REVELT D, TRAIN K.Mixed logit with repeated choices: Households’ choices of appliance efficiency level[J]. Review of Economics & Statistics, 2006, 80(4): 647-657.
[10] BHAT C R, GOSSEN R.A mixed multinomial logit model analysis of weekend recreational episode type choice[J]. Transportation Research Part B Methodological, 2004, 38(9): 767-787.
[11] NDUNDS E N, MUNGATANA E D.Evaluating the welfare effects of improved wastewater treatment using a discrete choice experiment[J]. Journal of Environmental Management, 2013, 123: 49-57.
[12] BOXALL P C, ADAMOWICZ W L.Understanding heterogeneous preferences in random utility models: A latent class approach[J]. Environmental & Resource Economics, 1999, 23(4): 421-446.
[13] BHAT C R.An endogenous segmentation mode choice model with an application to intercity travel[J]. Transportation Science, 1997, 31(1): 34-48.
[14] MILON J W, SCROGIN D.Latent preferences and valuation of wetland ecosystem restoration[J]. Ecological Economics, 2006, 56(2): 162-175.
[15] BIROL E, KOUNDOURI P, KAROUSAKIS K.Using a choice experiment to account for preference heterogeneity in wetland attributes: The case of Cheimaditida wetland in Greece[J]. Ecological Economics, 2006, 60(1): 145-156.
[16] VALERI E, GATTA V, TEOBALDELLI D, et al.Modelling individual preferences for environmental policy drivers: Empirical evidence of Italian lifestyle changes using a latent class approach[J]. Environmental Science & Policy, 2016, 65: 65-74.
[17] VALCK J D, VLAEMINCK P, BROEKX S, et al.Benefits of clearing forest plantations to restore nature? Evidence from a discrete choice experiment in Flanders, Belgium[J]. Landscape & Urban Planning, 2014, 125(2): 65-75.
[18] 李京梅, 陈琦, 姚海燕. 基于选择实验法的胶州湾湿地围垦生态效益损失评估[J]. 资源科学, 2015, 37(1): 68-75.
[LI J M, CHEN Q, YAO H Y.Valuing the loss of ecological benefits from wetland reclamation in Jiaozhou Bay based on choice experiments. Resources Science, 2015, 37(1): 68-75. ]
[19] 苏红岩, 李京梅. 基于改进选择实验法的广西红树林湿地修复意愿评估[J]. 资源科学, 2016, 38(9): 1810-1819.
[SU H Y, LI J M.Valuing the willingness to restore mangrove wetlands in Guangxi based on improved choice experiments. Resources Science, 2016, 38(9): 1810-1819. ]
[20] 龚亚珍, 韩炜, BENNETT M, 等. 基于选择实验法的湿地保护区生态补偿政策研究[J]. 自然资源学报, 2016, 31(2): 241-251.
[GONG Y Z, HAN W, BENNETT M, et al.Study on eco-compensation policy design for wetland: A choice experiment approach. Journal of Natural Resources, 2016, 31(2): 241-251. ]
[21] 杨欣, BURTON M, 张安录. 基于潜在分类模型的农田生态补偿标准测算——一个离散选择实验模型的实证[J]. 中国人口·资源与环境, 2016, 26(7): 27-36.
[YANG X, BURTON M, ZHANG A L.Estimation of farmland eco-compensation criteria based on latent class model: A case of a discrete choice experiment. China Population, Resources and Environment, 2016, 26(7): 27-36. ]
[22] 史恒通, 赵敏娟. 生态系统服务功能偏好异质性研究——基于渭河流域水资源支付意愿的分析[J]. 干旱区资源与环境, 2016, 30(8): 36-40.
[SHI H T, ZHAO M J.Preference heterogeneity for ecosystem service function: A case study for environmental improvements of Wei River Basin. Journal of Arid Land Resources & Environment, 2016, 30(8): 36-40. ]
[23] LANCASTER K J.A new approach to consumer theory[J]. Journal of Political Economy, 1966, 74(2): 132-132.
[24] MARSCHAK J.Binary-choice constraints and random utility indicators [C]// ARROW K J, KARLIN S, SUPPES P. Mathematical Models in the Social Sciences, 1959: Proceedings of the First Stanford Symposium, Stanford Mathematical Studies in the Social Sciences, IV. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1960: 312-329.
[25] DOHERTY E.Site choices in recreational demand: a matter of utility maximization or regret minimization?[J]. Journal of Environmental Economics & Policy, 2012, 1(1): 32-47.
[26] BOXALL P C, ADAMOWICZ W L.Understanding heterogeneous preferences in random utility models: A latent class approach[J]. Environmental and Resource Economics, 2002, 23(4): 421-446.
[27] GARROD G, RUTO E, WILLIS K, et al.Heterogeneity of preferences for the benefits of environmental stewardship: A latent-class approach[J]. Ecological Economics, 2012, 76(1): 104-111
[28] MANSKI C F.The structure of random utility models[J]. Theory and Decision, 1977, 8(3): 229-254.
[29] MCFADDEN D, TRAIN K.Mixed MNL models for discrete response[J]. Journal of Applied Econometrics, 2000, 15(5): 447-470.
[30] PACIFICO D.Fitting nonparametric mixed Logit models via expectation-maximization algorithm[J]. Stata Journal, 2012, 12(2): 284-298.
[31] XU Y M, LI Y, OUYANG W, et al.The impact of long-term agricultural development on the wetlands landscape pattern in Sanjiang Plain[J]. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 2012, 13: 1922-1932.
[32] 冯磊, 敖长林, 焦扬. 三江平原湿地非使用价值支付意愿的影响因素[J]. 数学的实践与认识, 2012, 42(1): 59-67.
[FENG L, AO C L, JIAO Y.The influence factors of non-use value WTP for Sanjiang Plain Wetland. Mathematics in Practice and Theory, 2012, 42(1): 59-67. ]
[33] 敖长林, 王静, 高琴, 等. CVM数据分析中的半参数模型及实证研究[J]. 系统工程理论与实践, 2014, 34(9): 2332-2338.
[AO C L, WANG J, GAO Q, et al.The semi-parametric model and empirical research in CVM. Systems Engineering — Theory & Practice, 2014, 34(9): 2332-2338. ]
[34] 赵士洞, 张永民. 生态系统与人类福祉——千年生态系统评估的成就、贡献和展望[J]. 地球科学进展, 2006, 21(9): 895-902.
[ZHAO S D, ZHANG Y M.Ecosystems and human well-being: The achievements, contributions and prospects of the millennium ecosystem assessment. Advances in Earth Science, 2006, 21(9): 895-902. ]
[35] 敖长林, 董育宁, 焦扬, 等. 基于双栏模型的三江平原湿地生态保护价值评估[J]. 资源科学, 2016, 38(5): 929-938.
[AO C L, DONG Y N, JIAO Y, et al.Ecological value evaluation of the Sanjiang Plain Wetland based on the Double-Hurdle Model. Resources Science, 2016, 38(5): 929-938. ]
[36] JOHNSON F R, KANNINEN B, BINGHAM M, et al.Experimental Design for Stated-Choice Studies[M]. Springer Netherlands, 2006: 159-202.
Outlines

/