‌‌‌Estimating the recreational value of a forest area using contingent valuation and individual travel cost methods (Case Study: Kahman forest area, Iran)

This paper aims to estimate the recreational value of a forest area using contingent valuation and individual travel cost methods. Questionnaires were used for collecting the required data. The logit model was used to investigate the effect of explanatory variables on individuals’ willingness to pay in the contingent valuation method. Furthermore, the values of the parameters in the contingent valuation method were estimated based on the maximum likelihood method. The linear regression model was applied to study the effects of explanatory variables on the number of trips in the individual travel cost method. In addition, the parameters' values in the individual travel cost method were estimated based on the ordinary least squares method. Results of contingent valuation method indicated that the mean value of willingness to pay for recreational value in the study area was 19,983 IRR per visit and the annual recreational value was 1,807,415 IRR/ha. Furthermore, the results of individual travel cost method showed that the consumer surplus was 322,004 IRR per visit and the annual recreational value of 43,200 people who annually visit the area was 104,912,695 IRR/ha. The results of this study can help policymakers to enhance the quality of recreational sites according to the willingness to pay for ecosystem services.