섬진강 하구의 환경가치 추정

This paper attempts to measure the environmental value of the Seomjin-River estuary that has been comparatively well conserved but is confronted with the threat of its development. Especially, in order to elicit the environmental values of its four attributes, contingent valuation method (CVM) based on multi-attribute utility theory is applied and the CVM survey was rigorously designed to comply with the guidelines for best-practiced CVM studies. We surveyed a randomly selected sample of 300 and 350 households in the Seomjin-River estuary-neighboring area (Gwangyang, Sooncheon, Yeosu, Hadong, Namhae) and seven large cities (Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Ulsan), respectively and asked respondents questions in person-to-person interviews about what they would willing to pay for the estuary conservation and management program. Respondents overall accepted the contingent market and were willing to contribute a significant amount (5,763 won in the Seomjin-River estuary-neighboring area and 1,883 won in seven large cities), on average, per household per year, which implies that there is a large difference between the two. The aggregate values of the Seomjin-River estuary in the estuary-neighboring area and seven large cities amount to 1.52 and 14.05 billion won, respectively, per year. The quantitative values can be utilized in planning and decision-making about development versus conservation of the estuary.