Value of Conserving an Endangered Eagle Species
Attributes
Medium: Animals, Plants and/or Others
Country: Philippines
Analytical Framework(s): Contingent Valuation
Unit(s): Mean WTP
Study Date: 2005
Publication Date: 2006
Major Result(s)
| Resource/Environmental Good | PHP, per household per year (2005) |
PHP, per household per year (2014)1 |
USD, per household per year (2014)2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean WTP to conserve the Philippine Eagle (high income) | 276.00 | 391.51 | 8.75 |
| Mean WTP to conserve the Philippine Eagle (middle income) | 264.00 | 374.49 | 8.37 |
| Mean WTP to conserve the Philippine Eagle (low income) | 168.00 | 238.31 | 5.33 |
About the Inflation Adjustment: Prices in Philippines (PHP) changed by 41.85% from 2005 to 2014 (aggregated from annual CPI data), so the study values were multiplied by 1.42 to express them in 2014 prices. The study values could be expressed in any desired year (for example, to 2025) by following the same inflation calculation and being sensitive to directional (forward/backward) aggregations using your own CPI/inflation data.
Study Note: Overall, the study showed that funds may be raised for endangered species conservation activities by mobilizing citizens' willingness to pay for the Philippine Eagle Conservation. This is despite findings that environmental concerns in general and endangered species conservation in particular are not priority concerns among Filipinos.
Study Details
Summary: The Philippine Eagle, classified by the IUCN as an endangered species, has received limited funding support from the government and private organizations relative to the needed resources for enhanced conservation efforts. To address this gap, the study sought to answer this basic question: Are Filipinos willing to pay to increase conservation efforts that would also improve the chances for survival of the Philippine Eagle? Along with this are concerns on the amount Filipinos are willing to pay, motivations for paying, attitude toward the proposed conservation program, and factors affecting households' decision to pay. The study also addressed four methodological issues on payment vehicle effect, scope sensitivity, extent of the market and effect of using colored or black and white photographs. In general, results show that the potential aggregate benefits on the national level outweigh conservation costs by almost 10 times despite low support for endangered species conservation. The main reason for unwillingness to pay is economic constraint, which is consistent with the finding that economic problem is the main priority concern among Filipinos.
Site Characteristics: The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is one of the largest and most powerful `birds in the world. Like most raptors, it has a massive, narrow-arched bill and enormous claws. It measures one meter in height and has a wingspan of about two meters. It is monogamous and shares with its mate chick-rearing responsibilities. The eaglet is usually cared for over 17 months, on a nest found on top of a tree about 30 m above the ground. The Philippine Eagle lives in forests and is highly territorial. It was discovered in 1896 only, with the first nest found in 1963. It is found on four islands only of the country: Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. Sightings have been reported mostly in Mindanao, where conservation efforts are currently concentrated. However, the bird has been seen also recently in Samar and the Sierra Madre in Luzon.
Comments: Findings also reveal that respondents are insensitive to the payment vehicle (voluntary vs. mandatory water bill), collection mechanism (mandatory water vs. electric bill), scope of the program (national vs. regional), and extent of the market (on-site vs. offsite). However, WTP was found to be influenced significantly by questionnaire packaging (colored vs. black and white photographs).