Multiattribute elicitation of wilderness preservation benefits: a constructive approach

This paper contributes to the development of a constructive approach to eva luating environmental resources, using a version of multiattribute value el icitation in a group setting. Section 1 discusses the assumptions and pract ices of group multiattribute elicitation for public policy decisions. The g ood of interest is a potential doubling of designated wilderness areas in B ritish Columbia. Two groups, totalling 28 subjects, participated in intensi ve half-day workshops in which they provided judgments regarding the amount s of tax revenues from forest industry activities each thought provincial r esidents should forego to achieve specified increases in wilderness preserv ation. Subjects were asked to consider direct and passive use values, spiri tual values, and ecological service values. Subjects were also asked to con sider separately the interests of the current generation and future generat ions of residents and to provide judgments regarding the marginal benefits of increasing preservation. An initial aggregated valuation question was fo llowed by five more disaggregated questions. Subjects then compared and rec onciled their value judgments for the aggregated and disaggregated question s. The results are generally comparable to those of a contingent valuation referendum-based survey for the same valuation issues. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.