Using the contingent valuation method based on multi-attribute utility theory to measure the environmental value of the Nakdong-river estuary

This paper attempts to measure the environmental value of the Nakdong-river estuary, which is ecologically important but confronted with the threat of 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 400 and 350 households in Busan and six large cities (Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Ulsan), respectively and asked respondents questions in person-to-person interviews about how 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 (2,457 won in Busan and 3,560 won in six large cities), on average, per household per year, which implies that there exists a large difference between the two. The aggregate values of the Nakdong-river estuary in Busan and six large cities amount to 2.92 and 22.32 billion won, respectively, per year. In addition, expanding the values to Korea produces 51.34 billion won per year. The quantitative values can be utilized in planning and decision-making about development versus conservation of the estuary.