of other CVM studies (Carson et al. 2000; Jakobsson and Dragun 2001; Amirnejad
et al. 2005). Interestingly, it can be seen that within the visitors’ group, the
additional WTP relative to the general population is smaller. This might be
explained by the fact that environmental commitment is higher within nonmembers (and hence the small difference), provided they visit the given site.
17.5 Benefit Cost Analysis
17.5.1 Estimating the Economic Value of the Nizzanim LTER
Coastal Sand Dune Nature Reserve
According to the Israeli Government’s Central Bureau of Statistics (2007) Annual
Report, there were 1,968,300 households in Israel in 2006. If we assume that the
survey sample is a representative sample of the households in Israel, the total value
to the Israeli public of containing the spread of A. saligna at the Nizzanim LTER
Coastal Sand Dune Nature Reserve will be equal to the mean WTP from question
1 multiplied by the number of households in Israel, which comes to
US$16,725,827. The total value of eradication of A. saligna at the site and
restoring the nature reserve will be equal to the mean WTP from question 2
multiplied by the number of households in Israel, which comes to US$18,806,166.
In order to exercise maximum caution in the benefit–cost analysis, we chose to
use the mean use value of the visitors to the Nizzanim LTER Coastal Sand Dune
Nature Reserve, estimated by the Nature Reserve Authority to be 200,000 visitors
a year. Although this calculation indicates a much lower economic value of the
environmental goods than the other methods, it can be argued that the calculation
expresses the use value of the nature reserve to those Israelis who are actual users
of the environmental goods. By this method, the value of containing the spread of
A. saligna at the Nizzanim LTER Coastal Sand Dune Nature Reserve will be equal
to the visitor’s mean WTP by using the value from question 1 ($2.25) multiplied
by the number of annual visitors to the nature reserve, which comes to
US$450,000. The value of eradicating A. saligna at the Nizzanim LTER Coastal
Sand Dune Nature Reserve will be equal to the visitor’s mean WTP by using the
value from question 2 ($2.85) multiplied by the number of annual visitors to the
nature reserve, which comes to US$570,000.
17.5.2 Cost
The cost estimates for the containment and eradication of the spread of A. saligna
at the Nizzanim LTER Coastal Sand Dune Nature Reserve can be narrowed down
282
D. Lehrer et al.
et al. 2005). Interestingly, it can be seen that within the visitors’ group, the
additional WTP relative to the general population is smaller. This might be
explained by the fact that environmental commitment is higher within nonmembers (and hence the small difference), provided they visit the given site.
17.5 Benefit Cost Analysis
17.5.1 Estimating the Economic Value of the Nizzanim LTER
Coastal Sand Dune Nature Reserve
According to the Israeli Government’s Central Bureau of Statistics (2007) Annual
Report, there were 1,968,300 households in Israel in 2006. If we assume that the
survey sample is a representative sample of the households in Israel, the total value
to the Israeli public of containing the spread of A. saligna at the Nizzanim LTER
Coastal Sand Dune Nature Reserve will be equal to the mean WTP from question
1 multiplied by the number of households in Israel, which comes to
US$16,725,827. The total value of eradication of A. saligna at the site and
restoring the nature reserve will be equal to the mean WTP from question 2
multiplied by the number of households in Israel, which comes to US$18,806,166.
In order to exercise maximum caution in the benefit–cost analysis, we chose to
use the mean use value of the visitors to the Nizzanim LTER Coastal Sand Dune
Nature Reserve, estimated by the Nature Reserve Authority to be 200,000 visitors
a year. Although this calculation indicates a much lower economic value of the
environmental goods than the other methods, it can be argued that the calculation
expresses the use value of the nature reserve to those Israelis who are actual users
of the environmental goods. By this method, the value of containing the spread of
A. saligna at the Nizzanim LTER Coastal Sand Dune Nature Reserve will be equal
to the visitor’s mean WTP by using the value from question 1 ($2.25) multiplied
by the number of annual visitors to the nature reserve, which comes to
US$450,000. The value of eradicating A. saligna at the Nizzanim LTER Coastal
Sand Dune Nature Reserve will be equal to the visitor’s mean WTP by using the
value from question 2 ($2.85) multiplied by the number of annual visitors to the
nature reserve, which comes to US$570,000.
17.5.2 Cost
The cost estimates for the containment and eradication of the spread of A. saligna
at the Nizzanim LTER Coastal Sand Dune Nature Reserve can be narrowed down
282
D. Lehrer et al.