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AbstractOne of the assumptions in stated preference studies is the stability of respondents' preferences. This assumption might be violated in situations of context dependence, i.e., when the contingent situation influences respondents' choices. Ambient weather conditions (AWCs) are one element of the context that may influence stated preferences. The literature suggests that AWCs affect people's emotions, behaviors, and decision-making processes; however, the potential AWCs impact in environmental preference studies has not yet been investigated. This aspect is of high importance because context-dependent choices return biased willingness to pay estimates and affect the subsequent welfare analysis that informs public policy. To shed light on this important aspect of non-market valuation studies, we explore the effect of AWCs on preferences elicited with a Discrete Choice Experiment for ecosystem services management of a Nature Park. Results of a generalized mixed logit model evidenced a significant effect of AWCs on respondents' choices, with good weather conditions leading to higher preferences and willingness to pay for ecosystem services management. This result, which is consistent with previous psychological studies, raises the issue of sampling design and reveals the importance of a sensitivity analysis of WTP. As this issue is still unexplored in stated preference studies, we also encourage undertaking similar studies to add a priori knowledge for more accurate ex-post calibration of WTP estimates.

AbstractScientific evidence suggests that emotions affect actual human decision-making, particularly in highly emotionally situations such as human-wildlife interactions. In this study we assess the role of fear on preferences for wildlife conservation, using a discrete choice experiment. The sample was split into two treatment groups and a control. In the treatment groups the emotion of fear towards wildlife was manipulated using two different pictures of a wolf, one fearful and one reassuring, which were presented to respondents during the experiment. Results were different for the two treatments. The assurance treatment lead to higher preferences and willingness to pay for the wolf, compared to the fear treatment and the control, for several population sizes. On the other hand, the impact of the fear treatment was lower than expected and only significant for large populations of wolves, in excess of 50 specimen. Overall, the study suggests that emotional choices may represent a source of concern for the assessment of stable preferences. The impact of emotional choices is likely to be greater in situations where a wildlife-related topic is highly emphasized, positively or negatively, by social networks, mass media, and opinion leaders. When stated preferences towards wildlife are affected by the emotional state of fear due to contextual external stimuli, welfare analysis does not reflect stable individual preferences and may lead to sub-optimal conservation policies. Therefore, while more research is recommended for a more accurate assessment, it is advised to control the decision context during surveys for potential emotional choices.

Bottom-up approaches to natural resource management are considered to be more effective for conservation than traditional top-down approaches because the policy-making process is legitimized by stakeholders. In particular, when decisions are shared with direct users of the resource, compliance with the law may be achieved more easily and potential sources of conflict averted. However, empirical evidence on this topic is still limited. In this paper, we investigate how recreational anglers perceive stricter legislation for sea bass fishing, using Ireland as a case study. The new legislation aims to limit harvest rates to restore a viable bass population following years of declining stocks. Data were collected by means of an angler survey and analysed with a seemingly unrelated ordered probit model. Results suggest that most respondents are willing to trade harvested fish for a healthier and long-term sustainable bass population, suggesting strong compliance with this new law.

The values of goods and services by natural resources are not included in the political decision making process concerning natural resources management. This gap is due to the fact that many ecosystem services are not marketed. In order to overcome this gap in the management of natural resources, it is necessary to apply some environmental economic methods to capture the total economic value of marketed and non-marketed ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are not homogeneous across landscapes but they are heterogeneous in space. Consequently, mapping ecosystem services is considered as a fundamental requirement for landscape planning. The aim of this paper is to show a method for the economic valuation and mapping of the forest ecosystem services. The method was applied to a case study characterized by a high importance of ecosystem services and involved in the recharge.green project (Alpine Space Programme): the Gesso-Vermenagna valley in Italy. Results show that the highest economic values are for regulating services (from 11 € ha-1 to 4.300 € ha-1 per year) and for provisioning services (from 6 € ha-1 to 1.980 € ha-1 per year), while the lowest values are for cultural services (from 6 € ha-1 to 627 € ha-1 per year). This study can provide useful information to decision makers in order to improve the management of natural resources at local level. ; El valor de los bienes y servicios suministrados por ecosistemas naturales no se incluye, a menudo, en el proceso político de toma de decisiones sobre manejo de recursos naturales. Esto, debido a que muchos beneficios no se llegan a comercializar. Para evitar este límite en la gestión de los recursos naturales, es necesario desarrollar técnicas que evalúen los servicios ecosistémicos y que capturen el valor económico total de los servicios comerciales y no comerciales. Los servicios ecosistémicos no son heterogéneos a través de los paisajes. Por consiguiente, el conocimiento de la distribución espacial y la importancia económica de los servicios ecosistémicos es una información fundamental para mejorar la planificación de las intervenciones. En el artículo se muestra un procedimiento para la evaluación económica y localización espacial de servicios ecosistémicos que son suministrados por un ecosistema forestal. El método propuesto fue analizado mediante un caso de estudio en el valle del Gesso-Vermagnana, Italia. Este se caracteriza por su importancia en el ámbito de los recursos naturales y por estar involucrado en el proyecto recharge.green (Programa Espacial Alpino). Los resultados muestran que los valores más altos corresponden a los servicios de regulación (11 a 4.300 € ha-1 año-1) y a los servicios de aprovisionamiento (6 a 1.980 € ha-1 año-1), mientras que los servicios culturales presentan los valores más bajos (6 a 627 € ha-1 año-1). Este estudio permite ampliar el conocimiento y la información útil para los responsables encargados de la toma de decisiones sobre el manejo de recursos naturales.

Background and Purpose: In the EU political agenda, the use of forest biomass for energy has grown rapidly and significantly, in order to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions and reduce the energy dependence on fossil fuels of European member countries. The target of the EU climate and energy package is to raise the share of renewable energy consumption produced from renewable resources to 20% in 2020 (Directive 2009/28/EC). With regards to biomass energy, the supply of forest wood biomass is expected to rise by 45% (reference period: 2006-2020), in response to increasing demand for renewable sources. The increase of forest biomass supply could have both positive and negative effects on several forest ecosystem services (ESs) and local development. These effects should be assessed in a proper manner and taken into account when formulating management strategies. The aim of the paper is to assess the environmental, economic and social sustainability of forest biomass harvesting for energy, using the Figure of Merit (FoM) approach. Materials and Methods: Sustainability was assessed through a set of four indicators: two focused on experts' opinions regarding the effects of forest biomass harvesting and the other two focused on the cost-benefit analysis (potential energy obtained and costs for wood chips). The research was developed through four case studies located in the Alpine Region. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered face-to-face to 32 selected experts. The perceived effects of forest biomass harvesting for energy on ESs and local development were evaluated by experts using a 5-point Likert scale (from "quite negative effect" to "quite positive effect"). Results: All experts agree that forest biomass harvesting has a positive effect on forest products provision and local economic development (employment of local workforce, local entrepreneurship and market diversification), while the effects on other ESs are controversial (e.g. carbon sequestration, habitat quality, natural hazards protection and recreational values). Conclusions: Therefore, it can be asserted that the effects of forest biomass harvesting on sustainability vary according to the local context. The results of FoM can support decision makers in order to analyze the environmental, social and economic sustainability of forest biomass harvesting for energy.