Use and non-use value of wild elephants in Peninsular Malaysia

Poh Lye Yong, . and Teddy Sius @ Lawrencius Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia, . and Mohd Shahwahid H.O. Putra Malaysia Univ., . (2010) Use and non-use value of wild elephants in Peninsular Malaysia. [Proceedings Paper]

The Contingent Valuation Method CVM was used to value both the use and non-use value of wild elephants in Peninsular Malaysia. The use value of wild elephants was estimated through ecotourism services offered by wild elephants at the National Elephant Conservation Centre NECC in Kuala Gandah Pahang. Meanwhile the non-use value involves ascertaining how much an individual was willing to pay WTP to ensure that the existence and heritage attributes of the elephant species are preserved. Structured questionnaires were designed to capture information required for the analysis. To assess the use value of wild elephants 218 visitors visiting the NECC were interviewed. For the non-use value of wild elephants a total of 220 random samples were collected via personal interviews to see how society perceive the role of wild elephants as keystone species in seed disposal biodiversity conservation and its position as an important component of the ecosystem. This survey was conducted in both urban and rural areas where people from all walks of life meet such as shopping areas and coffee shops in four major towns and Taman Negara in the state of Pahang. Results showed that the WTP to NECC was RM 4.30 per visit while the mean WTP of the Malaysian public to ensure that the elephants habitat and well-being will be protected to meet all their survival needs was RM 5.86 per person. Regression analysis showed that WTP bid was positively related to age in ecotourism services while income and age were statistically significant in explaining WTP bids in non-use value. The non-use value of wild elephants was higher than use value.

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Abstract

The Contingent Valuation Method CVM was used to value both the use and non-use value of wild elephants in Peninsular Malaysia. The use value of wild elephants was estimated through ecotourism services offered by wild elephants at the National Elephant Conservation Centre NECC in Kuala Gandah Pahang. Meanwhile the non-use value involves ascertaining how much an individual was willing to pay WTP to ensure that the existence and heritage attributes of the elephant species are preserved. Structured questionnaires were designed to capture information required for the analysis. To assess the use value of wild elephants 218 visitors visiting the NECC were interviewed. For the non-use value of wild elephants a total of 220 random samples were collected via personal interviews to see how society perceive the role of wild elephants as keystone species in seed disposal biodiversity conservation and its position as an important component of the ecosystem. This survey was conducted in both urban and rural areas where people from all walks of life meet such as shopping areas and coffee shops in four major towns and Taman Negara in the state of Pahang. Results showed that the WTP to NECC was RM 4.30 per visit while the mean WTP of the Malaysian public to ensure that the elephants habitat and well-being will be protected to meet all their survival needs was RM 5.86 per person. Regression analysis showed that WTP bid was positively related to age in ecotourism services while income and age were statistically significant in explaining WTP bids in non-use value. The non-use value of wild elephants was higher than use value.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	3 tables; 6 ref
AGROVOC Term:	Elephants
AGROVOC Term:	Peninsular Malaysia
AGROVOC Term:	Ecotourism
AGROVOC Term:	Forests
AGROVOC Term:	Wildlife
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:14
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/11482

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