Saksri Rakthai

DOI: 10.14456/sjst-psu.2018.90

pp. 570 - 576

Abstract

The objective of this research was to analyze the willingness to pay for biological diversity conservation of the Lower
Mekong River Basin (LMRB) in Thailand. Questionnaires were collected from 763 households in 8 provinces located alongside
the river including Chiang Rai, Nong Khai, Loei, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Ubon Ratchathani, and Amnart
Charoen. The data were analyzed from the responses to the single-bounded closed-ended contingent valuation method questions
and analyzed further using the non-parametric and logistic regression models. The results showed that the willingness to pay for
biodiversity conservation by means of the non-parametric model was Baht 143.39 per year per household (US$ 3.99) and the
total benefits were Baht 5,515,684.68 per year (US$ 153,471.38). This finding also revealed that the positive correlation of a
household’s willingness to pay include age (Beta = 0.08, sig = 0.001) and level of education (Beta = 1.130, sig = 0.009).