• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.25-50
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• 2005

This study estimates the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for avoiding the destruction of a first-grade ecological area by means of contingent valuation method. Specifically, we employ the dichotomous choice technique along with the follow-up questionnaires. Our analysis implies the yearly WTP per household for avoiding the destruction of the ecological area of 100,000 pyongs is 8,898 won with the 95% confidence interval of 6,611~11,976 won. We estimate the asset value of that area to be 1,707 billion won with the 95% confidence interval of 1,269 to 2,298 billion won. We also decompose the total value of the area into the value of direct (22%) and indirect (38.8%) use, the option value (19.9%) and the conservation value (21.3%). Although using these data for SEEA (the system of integrated environmental economic accounting) is bound by certain restrictions, one could employ our empirical findings as advisory information for decision making in the process of prior environmental review or for assessing the environmental impact.