Author/Authors :
DEBROY, PIYASHI Central Institute of Fisheries Education, India , JAYARAMAN, R. Tamil Nadu Fisheries University - Fisheries College and Research Institute - Department of Fisheries Economics and Management, India , KRISHNAN, M. Central Institute of Fisheries Education, India , CRIDDLE, KEITH R. University of Alaska Fairbanks - School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Alaska
Abstract :
The study was carried out in MGR Thittu village in the vicinity of the Pichavaram mangroves in the Cuddalore district of the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The objective of the study was the economic valuation of the Pichavaram mangroves for the villagers of MGR Thittu, using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) for estimating the indirect use values of the mangroves. In estimating the Willingness To Pay (WTP) for conservation and management of the mangroves within the CVM framework, about 73% of the respondents from MGR Thittu were willing to pay for the conservation and management of the Pichavaram mangroves. Seventy five per cent of the female respondents interviewed were willing to pay, in comparison to 71% of the male respondents who were willing to pay. This brings into focus the fact that women along with men can be very dynamic conservationists and managers of natural resources in the community-based management process.
