Assessment of the willingness to pay for coral reefs conservation in marine protected areas of Tanzania:  the case study of Mbudya marine reserve

Tesha, Novatus Apolinary

Assessment of the willingness to pay for coral reefs conservation in marine protected areas of Tanzania: the case study of Mbudya marine reserve

Date

2015

Authors

Tesha, Novatus Apolinary

Publisher

University of Dar es Salaam

Abstract

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Tanzania obtain some of funds to finance conservation activities especially the endangered species such as coral reefs from donors, which is unreliable and unpredictable for sustainable conservation. The main objective of the study was to look on an alternative means of obtaining financial resources to facilitate conservation activities in MPAs from local communities who are also stakeholders. The study used Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), to find stakeholders Willingness to Pay (WTP) for coral reefs conservation. Single and double bound models were used to elicit the required information and probit regression was used to determine factors which influence WTP for coral reefs conservation. The study used primary data collected through face to face interview in which 218 stakeholders were interviewed. Cost of conserving Mbudya Marine Reserve was also estimated. The study’s results showed that many people who were interviewed (73%) were willing to pay. Total WTP per year was found to be Tshs 18.5 million and the cost of conservation was Tshs 39 million per annum. The Total WTP was capable of covering 47.4 percent of the cost of conservation. Marginal effect after probit regression was done to determine the influence of determinants of WTP on probability of WTP. Five variables were significant: bid amount, knowledge of benefits of corals, fishing activity, male respondents and knowledge of threats facing coral reefs. Bid amount, knowledge of benefits of corals and fishing activity had negative significant influence on the probability of WTP while been a male respondents and knowledge of threats facing coral reefs had positive significant influence. Implication of the study’s results is that some amount of money for conservation of coral reefs can be obtained from stakeholders through WTP which can replace the unreliable and unpredictable foreign assistance.

Description

Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF QH541.5.C7T47)

Keywords

Coral reef conservation, Economic aspects, Prices, Mbudya marine reserve, Tanzania

Citation

Tesha, N.A. (2015) Assessment of the willingness to pay for coral reefs conservation in marine protected areas of Tanzania: the case study of Mbudya marine reserve, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam