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Estimating wetland biodiversity values: a choice modelling application in Vietnam's Mekong River Delta

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2009

THANG NAM DO  and
JEFF BENNETT
THANG NAM DO*
Affiliation:
Ph.D. candidate, Environmental Management and Development Program, Crawford School of Economics and Government, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia. Email: donamthang18@gmail.com.
JEFF BENNETT
Affiliation:
Professor and Director, Environmental Management and Development Program, Crawford School of Economics and Government, Australian National University. Email: jeff.bennett@anu.edu.au
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

A lack of information on environmental protection values, especially non-market values, has contributed to wetland degradation in the Mekong River Delta. To fill this information gap, this study uses choice modelling to estimate the biodiversity protection values of Tram Chim National Park, a typical wetland ecosystem of the Delta. The estimated net social benefit of a proposed protection program ranges from USD0.52 million to USD1.84 million. This suggests that the program's implementation would improve social welfare. Some choice modelling issues, including the use of focus groups, aspects of questionnaire designs, and different survey modes, are discussed in the context of a developing country application.

Type
Research Article
Information
Environment and Development Economics , Volume 14 , Issue 2 , April 2009 , pp. 163 - 186
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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