Burned forest area or dead trees? A discrete choice experiment for Catalan citizens

Verónica Farreras

Argentina

Argentine Institute of Nivology, Glaciology and Environmental Sciences (IANIGLA – CONICET)

Robert Mavsar

Argentina

Mediterranean Regional Office of the European Forest Institute (EFIMED)

Submitted: 2016-03-07

|

Accepted:

|

Published: 2012-11-26

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7201/earn.2012.02.06
Funding Data

Downloads

Keywords:

Discrete choice experiments, Fire behaviour, Fire prevention measures, Social preferences, Social valuation

Supporting agencies:

Financiado por el proyecto FIRE PARADOX (FP6-018505). Agradecimientos por los valiosos comentarios del Dr. Pablo F. Salvador y de la Mgter. Beatriz Lucas.

Abstract:

This paper estimates the social-welfare change due to the application of additional fire prevention measures on Mediterranean forests. The discrete choice experiment is applied to elicit the social preferences regarding fire prevention measures in terms of their impact on fire behaviour –fire propagation and intensity- and to estimate the value of these measures for the society. The results of the study show that additional fire prevention measures increase the welfare of the Catalan population and that fire propagation is the descriptor of fire behaviour that most concerns the population. This information may be used by policy makers and environmental managers to design their programmes and activities.
Show more Show less

References:

Bateman, I., Carson, R., Day, B., Hanemann, W., Hanley, N., Hett, T., Jones-Lee, M., Loomes, G., Mourato, S., Özdemiroglu, E., Pearce, D., Sugden, R. and Swanson, J. (2002). Economic valuation with stated preference techniques: A manual. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781781009727

Bennett, J. and Blamey, R. (2001). The choice modelling approach to environmental valuation. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.

Burgess, L. (2007). Discrete choice experiments [computer software]. Department of Mathematical Sciences. University of Technology. Sydney. Available from http://crsu.science.uts.edu.au/choice/.

Butry, D. (2009). “Fighting fire with fire: Estimating the efficacy of wildfire mitigation programmes using propensity scores”. Environmental and Ecological Statistics, 16: 291-319. http://doi.org/cmx8wj.

Carson, R. (2000). “Contingent valuation: A user’s guide”. Environmental Science and Technology, 34(8): 1413-1418. http://doi.org/dwnbdx.

Carson, R. and Louviere, J. (2011). “A common nomenclature for stated preference elicitation approaches”. Environmental and Resource Economics, 49(4): 539-559. http://doi.org/cj2k4b.

GENCAT. (2007). Estadístiques d’incendis. Generalitat de Catalunya. Departament de Medi Ambient i Habitatge, Barcelona. Available from http://mediambient.gencat.net/cat/el_medi/incendis/.

González, J., Trasobares, A., Palahí, M. and Pukkala, T. (2007). “Predicting stand damage and tree survival in burned forests in Catalonia (North-East Spain)”. Annals of Forest Science, 64(7): 733-742. http://doi.org/cvx2dr.

Hanemann, W. and Kanninen, B. (2001). “The statistical analysis of discrete-response CV data”. In Bateman, I. and Willis, K. (Eds.): Valuing environmental preferences: Theory and practice of the contingent valuation method in the US, EC, and developing countries. Oxford University Press, Oxford: 302-442. https://doi.org/10.1093/0199248915.003.0011

Hanemann, W. (1984). “Welfare evaluations in contingent valuation experiment with discrete responses”. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 66(3): 332-341. http://doi.org/ffzkv7.

Hanley, N., Mourato, S. and Wright, R. (2001). “Choice modelling approaches: A superior alternative for environmental valuation?” Journal of Economic Surveys, 15(3): 435-462. http://doi.org/bwtfg2.

Hanley, N., Wright, R. and Álvarez-Farizo, B. (2006). “Estimating the economic value of improvements in river ecology using choice experiments: An application to the water framework directive”. Journal of Environmental Management, 78(2): 183-193. http://doi.org/d5d4gq.

Hausman, J. and McFadden, D. (1984). “Specification tests for the multinomial logit model”. Econometrica, 52(5): 1219-1240. https://doi.org/10.2307/1910997

Hensher, D. and Johnson, L. (1981). Applied discrete-choice modelling. Willey, New York.

Hensher, D. (2001). The mixed logit model: The state of practice and warnings for the unwary. Institute of Transport Studies. University of Sydney. Faculty of Economics and Business. Available from http://people.stern.nyu.edu/wgreene/MixedLogitSOP.pdf.

Hensher, D., Rose, J. and Green, W. (2005). Applied choice analysis: A primer. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511610356

Jones, C. and Pease, K. (1997). “Restoration-based compensation measures in natural resource liability statutes”. Contemporary Economic Policy, 15(4): 111-122. http://doi.org/dj72sm.

Krinsky, I. and Robb, L. (1986). “On approximating the statistical properties of elasticities”. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 68(4): 715-719. https://doi.org/10.2307/1924536

Louviere, J. (1988). Analysing decision making: Metric conjoint analysis. Sage University Paper Series on Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences, No. 07-067, Sage Publications, Newbury Park, California (CA).

Louviere, J., Hensher, D. and Swait, J. (2000). Stated choice methods: Analysis and applications. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511753831

Martins, P. (2001). “Fire spread prediction in shrub fuels in Portugal”. Forest Ecology and Management, 144(1-3): 67-74. http://doi.org/bxwsh4.

McFadden, D. (1973). “Conditional logit analysis of qualitative choice behaviour”. In Zarembka, P. (Ed.): Frontiers in econometrics. Academic Press, New York: 105-142.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. (2005). Ecosystems and human well-being: synthesis. Island Press, Washington, D.C.

Mogas, J., Riera, P. and Bennett, J. (2006). “A comparison of contingent valuation and choice modelling with second-order interactions”. Journal of Forest Economics, 12(1): 5-30. http://doi.org/dd79fb.

Moreno, J., Vázquez, A. and Vélez, R. (1998). “Recent history of forest fires in Spain”. In Moreno, J. (Ed.): Large forest fires. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden (The Netherlands): 159-186.

Munizaga, M. and Álvarez-Daziano, R. (2001). “Mixed logit vs. nested logit and probit models”. 5th tri-annual Invitational Choice Symposium: Hybrid Choice Models, Formulation and Practical Issues. Available from http://www.cec.uchile.cl/~dicidet/mmunizaga/mixed_logit.pdf.

Palahí, M., Mavsar, R., Gracia, C. and Birot, Y. (2008). “Mediterranean forests under focus”. International Forestry Review, 10(4): 676-688. http://doi.org/cr48w2.

Piñol, J., Terradas, J. and Lloret, F. (1998). “Climate warming, wildfire hazard, and wildfire occurrence in coastal eastern Spain”. Climatic Change, 38(3): 345-357. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005316632105

Piussi, P. (1992). “Environmental changes in forests. Examples from the south of Europe”. In Teller, A., Mathy, P. and Jeffers, J. (Eds.): Responses of forest ecosystems to environmental changes. Elsevier Applied Science, London: 298-309. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2866-7_26

Riera, J. and Castell, C. (1997). “Efectes dels incendis forestals recurrents sobre la distribució de dues espècies del Parc Natural del Garraf: El pi blanc (Pinus halepensis) i la savina (Juniperus phoenicea)”. Butlletí de la Institució Catalana d’Història Natural, 65: 105-117.

Riera, P. and Mogas, J. (2004). “Evaluation of risk reduction in forest fires in a Mediterranean region”. Forest Policy and Economics, 6(6): 521-528. http://doi.org/frf3kn.

Riera, P., Peñuelas, J., Farreras, V. and Estiarte, M. (2007). “Valuation of climate-change effects on Mediterranean shrublands”. Ecological Applications, 17(1): 91-100. http://doi.org/dkkd39.

Terradas, J. (1996). Ecologia del Foc. Edicions Proa, Barcelona.

Train, K. (1998). “Recreation demand models with taste differences over people”. Land Economics, 74(2): 230-239. https://doi.org/10.2307/3147053

Unsworth, R. and Bishop, R. (1994). “Assessing natural resource damages using environmental annuities”. Ecological Economics, 11(1): 35-41. http://doi.org/fv6432.

Xanthopolus, G., Caballero, D., Galante, M., Alexandrian, D., Rigolot, E. and Marzano, R. (2006). “Forest fuels management in Europe”. In Andrews, P. and Butler, B. (Eds.): Fuels Management - How to Measure Success: Conference Proceedings. Portland, OR. Proceedings RMRS-P-41. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 29-46.

Show more Show less