Valuing Nature: Public Perception of Value Added by Native and Invasive Non-Native Species to a Recreational Trail Experience

摘要

Aims: To assess the effect of four animal and four plant species on the perceived monetary value of users’ single experience of a recreational trail. To assess the effect on perceived value of identifying to users that four of the species are invasive non-native species (INNS) with adverse impacts on native species. Study Design: An image-based questionnaire was used to assess perceived monetary value of the species before and immediately after being given information on their INNS status. Place and Duration of Study: The Camel Trail, North Cornwall UK, used by about ? million people annually, April and May 2011. Methodology: Fifty one Camel Trail users completed the questionnaire. Results: Trail users positively valued all eight species when first shown them. Mean values ranged from ￡0.066 to ￡0.104. However, species were valued significantly differently (non-parametric repeated measures ANOVA, H = 55.3, 7 DF, P 2 = 55.3, 7 DF, P 2 = 16.9, 7 DF, P = .001). Conclusion: Using a simple image-based questionnaire to assess perceived monetary value of species can provide evidence to assess the cost of managing INNS.