Economic Valuation of Balkan Chamois Conservation

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The Balkan chamois is an agile mammal of the rocky mountain slopes of the Balkan peninsula. In Greece, its southernmost limit, it exists in six population groups. Illegal hunting and the isolation of populations are the major threats to the species. Therefore, conservation actions, such as the control of illegal hunting and the creation of wildlife corridors are required for securing viable populations. We used an econometric model to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) for chamois conservation. People from the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace participated in our survey. We asked them if they were WTP an annual tax for the next five years for implementing conservation actions for the chamois. Most of the surveyed people stated a considerable WTP that could yield adequate resources for funding relevant conservation actions. We also examined the effects of several factors on WTP. We found that increasing the knowledge about and improving the attitudes toward the species, targeting groups, such as males, those less educated, and who have not seen the species in the wild, through suitable education and outreach programs would increase public support and WTP for the species. Our findings would help successfully implement conservation plans for the chamois. ABSTRACT: The Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) is a caprine of the rocky mountain slopes, threatened in Greece by illegal hunting and population isolation. We used a contingent valuation method to assess the willingness to pay (WTP) for chamois conservation of 500 residents of the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Most of the participants (61.6%) were WTP a mean of EUR 41.6 for chamois conservation, totaling EUR 6.03 million for the target population. Attitudes toward and knowledge about chamois, moralistic worldviews (spiritual reverence and ethical concern for nature and wildlife), participation in wildlife-related consumptive outdoor activities (i.e., hunting and fishing), intention to participate in conservation actions for the species, and encounters with the species in the wild were positively associated with WTP for its conservation. Dominionistic worldviews (humans have mastery, physical control, and dominance of wildlife) were negatively associated with WTP, while highly educated females with high income were more WTP for implementing relevant conservation actions. Factors involving previous knowledge of the chamois positively influenced the WTP, thus, confirming the construct’s bias toward charismatic species. The findings show that Greek residents highly value the chamois and its conservation and would be useful for advising this process and achieving its conservation management.