Willingness to pay for protecting endangered environment: The case of Netchsar National park

Although national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserves are established to conserve biodiversity and enhance eco-tourism, most of the country's protected areas are under serious threat. The local threats usually arise from human encroachment. To rescue these resources, appropriate conservation strategy must be put in place. This, however, requires proper valuation of the environment. Taking Netchsar National Park as a case, it was tried to measure people's willingness-to-pay (WTP) to protect the endangered environment and identify its determinants. Using dichotomous choice contingent valuation method (CVM), it was found that the local community is willing to protect the park. The result shows that the means for the WTP are Birr 28.34 and Birr 57.07 per year per household; and its determinants are primary economic activity of the households, dependency ratio and distance from the park. The study suggests that the park management should involve the local community in its conservation endeavour and share the benefits with them.