Willingness to pay for the conservation of flooded forest in Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve, Cambodia

The study aimed to determine the stakeholders' willingness to pay (WTP) for the flooded forest conservation (FFC) in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve (TSBR), Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia. In addition to estimation of the WTP prices, the factors that affect the farmers' WTP were determined. The possibility of establishing the mechanism for instituting payment for environmental services (PES) was examined. The study adapted the contingent valuation method (CVM) in estimating WTP and multiple regression analysis in determining the factors that affect WTP. Respondents included 157 farmer households randomly selected from the 3 villages namely: Peam Khnang, Thnal Chheu Teal and Slat. The study found that the sample farmer-respondents have a high level of awareness on the benefits and functions of flooded forest. Sixty-four percent of the respondents were members of the flooded forest conservation (FFC) program; the rest did not join the program. The probability of participating in the FFC program was influenced by factors such as age, educational attainment, gender, household size and distance from residence to flooded forest area. Eighty-two percent of the respondents expressed willingness to pay for conservation of flooded forest. On average, the WTP price for a farm household was 2,357 Riels per month. The respondents' willingness to pay was affected by factors such as age, income and participation in training program. They were willing to pay for conservation mainly because they wanted to protect the flooded forest as reported by 88 percent of the respondents. In terms of method of collection, most of sample farmer-respondents would like the community themselves through the village leader to collect the WTP fund. The respondents said that they would prefer to pay the WTP fee monthly.