Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 390-399).

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI/Dissertation Abstracts International.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 230-2̀49). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

The Alfred Bog wetland is the largest high quality bog ecosystem and one of the most important natural areas in southern Ontario. The 4,200 hectare bog provides habitat to a large number of rare and endangered species and plays an integral role as a natural water filter. This study used the contingent valuation survey method to estimate respondents' willingness to pay for the preservation of the Alfred Bog wetland, which is threatened by the competing activities of drainage, burning, and the extraction of peat. A multiple bounded discrete choice model was used to analyze the survey results. Results indicated that respondents were willing to pay an average of $79.22, in the form of a one-time voluntary contribution to a hypothetical preservation fund, for the preservation of the Alfred Bog wetland. Conservation club membership, visits to the bog, donations to wetland preservation programs, attitudes, distance from the bog, household income, and education level were found to be important predictors of willingness to pay. Aggregate willingness to pay to preserve the bog was estimated to be between $2.2 million to $663,000 depending upon the inclusion or exclusion of protest bids. The survey results suggested that most of this value was nonuse value attributed to option, bequest, and altruistic values. Thus, the failure of policy makers and resource managers to consider nonuse values in decision making processes can understate the value of preserving the Alfred Bog.

No description available.

Ecotourism is considered an effective agent to conserve environmentally fragile areas while bringing economic opportunities to local communities at the same time. In the past decades, empirical studies about ecotourism's conservation effects on wetland ecosystems attracted relatively less academic attention than rainforests and coral reefs. Florida, listed as one of the states with the greatest share of wetland loss in the U.S. due to rapid growth in agriculture, tourism, and urban development, has a small number of existing wetlands under the protection of the park and reserve system. To generate long-term positive environmental impacts, ecotourism stakeholders' contributions to planning and management activities could be an alternative beyond land use controls for conserving Florida wetlands. The major objective of this study is to explore the relationship between ecotourism and wetland conservation contributions which lead to long-term environmental sustainability. The study surveyed 97 nature-based tour operators in Florida on their activeness in a set of wetland planning and management behavior, the proportion of tourism revenue from ecotourism, and the perceived tourism benefits regarding economic, socio-cultural, and ecological aspects. Factor analysis was employed to identify indicators for the composite factors, such as the conservation contributions and incentives (i.e., economic benefits, socio-cultural benefits, and ecological benefits). The effects of ecotourism involvement and conservation incentives on tour operators' participation in wetland conservation practices were statistically modeled. The results demonstrated the business characteristics, degrees of the perceived tourism benefits, and frequency of participation in wetland conservation activities of responding tour operators. On average, tour operators were not as active in wetland management and planning approaches leading to the long-term environmental health as theories suggest they should be. Generally, the regression analysis results illustrated the significant association between ecotourism involvement and tour operators' conservation contribution. It is noteworthy that the effects of ecotourism involvement on tour operators' participation in environmental planning and water management processes were relatively important. In addition, the incentive of the perceived socio-cultural benefits was identified as the leading factor by regression analysis. The findings lent to the policy suggestions in expanding the incentives to drive major stakeholders' active engagement in wetland conservation planning and management, which is critical for collaborative and adaptive management.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Arizona, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (pp. 197-199).

Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-115). Also available via Humboldt Digital Scholar.