PUBLIC-ATTITUDES AND VALUES FOR WETLAND CONSERVATION IN NEW-SOUTH-WALES, AUSTRALIA

This study, modeled after a study conducted in the New England region of the United States, estimates a willingness-to-pay value and examine s attitudes about wetland conservation in New South Wales, Australia. Respondents to a questionnaire survey indicated a median willingness-t o-pay of A$100 (A$=Australian dollars) (upper quartile=A$150, lower qu artile=A$50) per household per year for 5 years and a mean of A$124.37 (95%Cl=A$107.49-141.24). A conservative estimate of the aggregate val ue of wetlands in New South Wales, based on willingness-to-pay values reported by respondents and assuming that nonrespondents are not willi ng to pay for wetland conservation, is A$38 million per year for the n ext 5 years. In absolute terms, willingness-to-pay in New South Wales was somewhat lower than that of New England, but when compared as a fr action of the gross domestic product for Australia and the United Stat es, willingness-to-pay was slightly higher in New South Wales. Over 90 % of respondents considered the intrinsic value of wetlands and the im portance of conserving wetlands for future generations when answering questions about willingness-to-pay. (C) 1998 Academic Press.