Economic Valuation of recreational areas: a case study of the Pituaçu Metropolitan Park, Salvador, Bahia

Abstract

In urban centers the conception and maintenance of public areas, which are designated to environmental preservation, leisure and recreation, has been a challenge faced by public managers. In an in-expansion area of Salvador, the Metropolitan Park of Pituaçu, with an expressive green area designated to the citizens use, it is under environmental risk indicators and became a fragile natural resource. The aim of this study is to estimate the value to maintain the functions of the Metropolitan Park of Pituaçu, by Contingent Valuation Method (MVC), through an application of a survey, composed of socioeconomic and attitudinal variables. In this case, it is characterized by hypothetical market, where the park users were questioned on their willingness to pay (WTP) for the maintenance of the functions of natural. For the spontaneous WTP, it was observed that 55,2% of users were willing to pay an average value of R$ 6.48/ month. For the induced question, an increment of 8,2% in the willingness to pay was reached, showing an average WTP of R$ 7.72/month. The statistical analyses identify that the attitudinal variables were determinants to the users WTP. According to the benefits that were estimated by the MAC, the values of willingness to pay supported the operational costs for the maintenance of the Park. Despite the limitations of the method, to obtain a reference value to the Metropolitan Park of Pituaçu can provide subsidies to the public policies to deal with the management process of this natural resource, also working as a parameter to economic instruments application and financial compensation of social and environmental damages.