Economic Valuation of Ghori Gol International Wetland: A Choice Experiment Analysis

Introduction

Wetlands are critical ecosystems that underpin global biodiversity by providing essential water resources and supporting the reproductive cycles of diverse flora and fauna. These systems deliver substantial economic benefits through ecosystem services, including genetic resource preservation, water supply, aquaculture, agriculture, timber production, energy generation, nutrient cycling, transportation, and recreational and tourism opportunities. Economic valuation of wetlands enables policymakers to quantify ecological contributions, integrate environmental considerations into decision-making, align economic policies with natural capital, and mitigate unsustainable exploitation. Despite growing recognition of their importance, wetlands face severe threats from industrialization, pollution, and climate-induced stressors such as drought, necessitating rigorous valuation studies to inform conservation strategies. The Ghori Gol International Wetland, a 200-hectare Ramsar site located 30 km southeast of Tabriz, Iran, exemplifies these challenges. Designated a no-hunting zone since 1994, it serves as a seasonal habitat for protected migratory birds and attracts visitors due to its proximity to the Tehran-Tabriz transit road. However, pollution, degradation, and insufficient management threaten its ecological integrity. This study employed a choice experiment approach to estimate the economic value of the Ghori Gol Wetland, aiming to highlight the urgent need for its preservation, restoration, and sustainable development, thereby contributing to environmental economics and regional conservation policy.

Materials and Methods

The study utilized a choice experiment, a stated preference method ideal for valuing non-market ecosystem services, to elicit public preferences for the Ghori Gol Wetland’s attributes. Five key attributes were identified through literature reviews and expert consultations: recreational function, wetland landscape, habitat function (plant and animal species), water level, and price (to estimate willingness to pay, WTP). Each attribute had three levels: critical situation, relative improvement, and optimal state, with price levels set at 100,000, 200,000, and 300,000 Rials. A fractional factorial design was employed to reduce the number of combinations, and SAS 9.2 software generated 12 alternatives organized into six choice sets, divided into two blocks of three sets. Each set included two improvement scenarios and a status quo option, aligned with restoration plans from Iran’s Department of Environment. A sample of 296 respondents, comprising wetland visitors and Tabriz residents, was selected via simple random sampling, with the sample size determined using Orme’s (1998) formula for conjoint analysis. Structured questionnaires were administered to collect data, which were analyzed using Stata 12.0. The conditional logit model was rejected due to violation of the Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives (IIA) assumption (Hausman test), leading to the adoption of a mixed logit model to account for preference heterogeneity. The implicit price of each attribute was calculated by dividing non-monetary attribute coefficients by the monetary coefficient.

Results

The surveyed population exhibited diverse socioeconomic characteristics, with 59% male respondents, an average income of 89,120 thousand Rials, an average age of 45.3 years, and 1.6 annual visits to the wetland. Education levels averaged academic qualifications, and respondents demonstrated high valuation of the wetland (mean attitude index: 4.1/5) and positive environmental attitudes (mean: 3.9/5). The mixed logit model results indicated that all attributes—recreational function, landscape, habitat function, and water level—had positive and statistically significant coefficients, suggesting that improvements increased respondents’ utility. The price coefficient was negative and significant, confirming cost sensitivity. The model with interaction effects outperformed the standard model (likelihood-ratio test, chi-square = 1.196, p < 0.01), revealing that higher education, income, environmental attitudes, and visit frequency enhanced WTP. The total economic value of the wetland was estimated at 731.308 billion Rials per year (approximately USD 1,218,000), based on provincial visitors and excluding regulatory functions. The water level was the most valued attribute (32%), followed by recreational function (27%), wetland landscape (25%), and habitat function (16%). Comparisons with other studies contextualized these findings. Yang et al. (2022) and Nguyen et al. (2023) reported high WTP for water quality and flood regulation, aligning with the prioritization of water level. Zhang and Bateman (2021) and Jafari and Haghjou (2023) emphasized recreational value in urban-proximate settings, consistent with the 27% share for recreation. However, the lower valuation of habitat function contrasted with Birol et al. (2020), where biodiversity was a priority, potentially due to lower public awareness of ecological attributes at Ghori Gol.

Conclusion

The Ghori Gol Wetland’s substantial economic value of 731.308 billion Rials annually underscores its critical role as an ecological and recreational asset in East Azerbaijan, Iran. The prioritization of water level and recreational function reflects public concerns about water scarcity and the demand for accessible natural spaces, particularly given the wetland’s strategic location near a major transit route. The lower valuation of habitat function suggests a need for enhanced public education on biodiversity, as supported by Zedler and Kercher (2023). Socioeconomic factors, including education, income, and environmental attitudes, significantly influenced WTP, aligning with findings from Haghjou et al. (2019) and Birol et al. (2020). The robust public support for restoration, evidenced by the positive Alternative Specific Constant, highlights the potential for community-driven conservation initiatives. However, ongoing threats such as drought, pollution, and inadequate management necessitate urgent policy interventions to prevent further degradation. This study provides a rigorous evidence base for policymakers to prioritize the wetland’s conservation, integrating economic valuation into regional environmental planning to ensure its long-term sustainability.

Applied Recommendations





Establish a Wetland Conservation Fund: Create a dedicated fund sourced from provincial budgets, tourism revenues, and public contributions to finance restoration projects, water level maintenance, and habitat protection. A multi-stakeholder committee, including government, NGOs, and local communities, should manage the fund to ensure transparency and effective allocation.



Develop Eco-Tourism Infrastructure: Invest in sustainable facilities, such as guided bird-watching tours, educational visitor centers, and low-impact recreational trails, to enhance the wetland’s recreational value, generate conservation revenue, and leverage its accessibility.



Implement Community-Based Monitoring Programs: Engage local communities in monitoring water levels and biodiversity through training and incentives, fostering stewardship and improving data for adaptive management.



Promote Environmental Education Campaigns: Develop targeted programs via schools, media, and NGOs to increase awareness of the wetland’s ecological and recreational value, boosting WTP and sustainable behaviors.



Enforce Stricter Pollution Control Regulations: Implement regulations to reduce agricultural runoff and waste, with regular monitoring and penalties to protect water quality and biodiversity, ensuring the wetland’s ecological integrity.

These recommendations, grounded in the study’s findings, offer a strategic framework for conserving the Ghori Gol Wetland, aligning with global and regional valuation trends and addressing local environmental challenges.