Application of Choice Experiment in Determining the Value of Natural Functions of Zarivar Lake

Economic valuation could be a useful tool for better use and management of wetland resources. Zarivar wetland is one of the unique freshwater wetlands in the world. Despite the valuable functions of the wetland and the location of it, in recent years because of the inattentions, this wetland has been in critical conditions. The purpose of this study is to estimate the Marivan citizen’s willingness to pay using choice experiment. In this regard, data and information needed to complete the questionnaire were collected through interviews with 120 citizens of this city. Results of the estimation of conditional Logit model and calculation of willingness to pay showed that the highest marginal willingness to pay is for recreational-tourism facilities and in the absolute improvement is (822.4 thousand Rls). People willing to pay 115.77 and 130.40 thousands Rls annually for improving fish condition of the wetland from present situation to relative and absolute improvement, respectively; to change the states of recreational and tourism facilities to relative improvement 117.93 thousands Rls annually; to switch wells uses to relative and absolute improvement 825.16 and 767.50 thousands Rls annually respectively; to change the state of pollution of wetland to relative and absolute improvement 309.58 and 813.72 thousands Rls annually respectively and to change the forest uses to relative and absolute improvement 746.85 and 801.13 thousands Rls annually respectively.