Poudel Diwakar, Johnsen Fred H
Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), P.O. Box 324, Pokhara, Nepal.
J Environ Manage. 2009 Jan;90(1):483-91. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.12.020. Epub 2008 Mar 21.
Crop genetic resources constitute an important aspect of biodiversity conservation, both because of their direct value to the farmers and due to their indirect global value. This study uses the contingent valuation method to document the economic value of crop genetic resources based on the farmers' willingness to pay for conservation. A total of 107 households in Kaski, Nepal were surveyed in November 2003. Their mean willingness to pay was USD 4.18 for in situ and USD 2.20 for ex situ conservation per annum. Landholding size, household size, education level, socio-economic status, sex of respondent, number of crop landraces grown, and knowledge on biodiversity influenced the willingness to pay for in situ conservation, whereas only landholding size and household size influenced the willingness to pay for ex situ conservation. The respondents were willing to contribute more for in situ than ex situ conservation because of the additional effect of direct use and direct involvement of the farmers in in situ conservation. This study supports the view that economic valuation of crop genetic resources can assist the policy makers in setting conservation priorities.
作物遗传资源构成了生物多样性保护的一个重要方面，这既是因为它们对农民具有直接价值，也是由于它们具有间接的全球价值。本研究采用条件价值评估法，根据农民对保护的支付意愿来记录作物遗传资源的经济价值。2003年11月，对尼泊尔卡斯凯的107户家庭进行了调查。他们每年对原地保护的平均支付意愿为4.18美元，对迁地保护的平均支付意愿为2.20美元。土地持有规模、家庭规模、教育水平、社会经济地位、受访者性别、种植的作物地方品种数量以及生物多样性知识影响了对原地保护的支付意愿，而只有土地持有规模和家庭规模影响了对迁地保护的支付意愿。由于农民直接使用和直接参与原地保护的额外效应，受访者对原地保护的贡献意愿高于迁地保护。本研究支持这样一种观点，即作物遗传资源的经济评估可以帮助政策制定者确定保护重点。
