Research Presentation
Join Zoom Meeting
https://illinois.zoom.us/j/92851117722?pwd=aEl6RjlQaGxod2k2R3kzWmxCYXpQUT09
Meeting ID: 928 5111 7722
Password: pere
Liqing Li
(California State Univeristy, Fullerton)
"Early Exposure to Nature and Willingness to Pay for Conservation"
Abstract
Current urban spatial structures reduce the interaction between nature and human beings. If the changes in an individual's interaction with nature affect their preference for nature, people's Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) for conservation and restoration may decline as they grow up with less exposure to nature. This paper uses a choice experiment survey to estimate individuals' WTP for a hypothetical restored grassland in three different states. We also gather data on respondents' early-life experience and exposure to nature to study the relationship between childhood experiences and WTP for grassland restoration. The results show that the demand for environmental goods is affected by an individual's childhood experience. People who had early-life experiences with nature have higher WTP for grassland restoration. Such results suggest that urbanization and reduction in people's interaction with nature may generate a negative feedback loop on people's WTP for nature.
