Valuing environmental impacts of coastal development projectsa choice modelling application in Spain

  1. Hoyos Ramos, David
  2. Riera Micaló, Pere
  3. Fernández Macho, Francisco Javier
  4. Gallastegui Zulaica, María del Carmen
  5. García Pérez, Dolores
Revista:
Documentos de Trabajo BILTOKI

ISSN: 1134-8984

Año de publicación: 2008

Número: 2

Tipo: Documento de Trabajo

Otras publicaciones en: Documentos de Trabajo BILTOKI

Resumen

Developmental monetary benefits of coast artificialisation projects are rarely confronted with the environmental benefits that its conservation may entail. As a consequence, policy-makers often face decision making processes in which monetary benefits have to be balanced with physical impacts ending up in undervaluation or overvaluation of environmental aspects. Non-market valuation of coastal and marine resources is thus a growing concern in the assessment of cost-benefit analysis of coastal developmental projects. This paper attempts to estimate the effects on people’s utility of the potential environmental impacts of a new seaport in Pasaia, Spain. A choice modelling technique is proposed as a means of estimating marginal impacts for different environmental attributes of mount Jaizkibel, namely its landscape, flora, avifauna and seabed. The results from a multinomial logit model reveal that, on average, individuals would pay 1.39 euros for a one percentage protection of its landscape; 0.87 euros for protecting its flora; 0.68 euros for protecting its avifauna; and 0.63 euros for protecting its seabed.