This dissertation consists of five papers with different objectives. The overall objective is to improve knowledge of effective policies regarding socially deprived large housing estates. All studies deal with the real estate context from a housing company decision-making perspective. The first two papers focus on organisational issues and the following three papers deal with economic issues related to the development of a specific housing area. The research is based on case studies which involve specific methodologies such as interviews, direct observation and collecting data from company accounts. The main message of this thesis is that landlord policies and resources spent on operation and maintenance contribute to local area development. It is also underlined that there is a need for a paradigm shift in Swedish housing, since the regulatory framework appeared to be inadequate. The experience from this study shows that many problems can be solved within the existing laws and through efficient customised property management, but landlords need more effective incentives to improve their policies further. The first two papers address issues about how to organise local management resources in large housing estates. Three different functions were identified: customer service, (e.g. fault-reporting); the letting process; and caretaking (day-to-day management and control over indoor and outdoor areas). The models where more decisions are decentralised lead to better information about the local conditions, make it easier to coordinate work in an area, create more motivation for the staff and make it easier to involve the tenants. This was particularly valuable for socially deprived estates, but the decentralised model raised some moral hazard problems, e.g. the local team create their own agenda, are pressured by certain tenants to give them advantages and that the result is lack of control and consistent housing policy in the company. The third paper deals with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in housing management. Different types of costs are identified and related to the estates’ social condition. The results indicate that a CSR-based management policy leads to approximately 4.5 percent lower annual operation and maintenance costs which improved the company’s profitability, especially if the higher standard of maintenance, made higher rents possible. The study also identified three other benefits of CSR; improved tenant relationship, goodwill and business opportunities and the study is a first step towards a better understanding of the economic consequences of CSR in a real estate-context. The fourth paper analyses the return of the Swedish slumlords, with a focus on a specific area in Malmö. The tenants stayed even though the rent was higher and the quality was lower than in neighbouring areas because of a combination of three factors; rents were paid by different forms of welfare payment, lack of alternatives because of queues to other areas and because some tenants saw an advantage in the “no questions” asked policy that the slumlord followed. It is further argued that the property owners found this slum strategy as profitable either because they hoped to find a “bigger fool” to sell to or because the decision makers in the company had not invested their own money. The study concludes that both tenants and investors were in the end losers, but not the company managers.The fifth paper is an economic evaluation of renovation in socially deprived housing estates. The empirical data indicates that it is profitable to use a clear and active housing management strategy, especially if the rent levels are affected by the standard of management by the landlord. The results also show that the landlord’s policy had positive social effects, both in the form of tenant welfare and in the form of lower costs for Police and the Fire department. The study also indicates that it can be difficult to justify large scale investment purely from a business perspective. / QC 20111122

The study discusses the importance, development and implementation of environmental assessment method, called "Method of Contingency." From this perspective, the technique developed by Neoclassical School, was complemented by the approach of the Economic Science Allied Geographical Science. This methodological technique for assessing the landscape can provide information showing whether or not the need to conserve / preserve certain environmental areas; recommend solutions to the problems of occupation of territories, schedule and carry out planning for the occupation of areas that cause less impact to the natural environment. As theoretical approaches became part of production space of Lefebvre, the size of the unborn, the lived and perceived, associated with the work of Milton Santos. On the theoretical basis of this author is seeking the elements of the space - the men, firms, institutions, infrastructure and ecological environment, complete with categories of analysis - form, function, structure and process - used to address space / synchronic perspectives in their territory, while the landscape, and as a result of a diachronic process. Thus, in the process of domination and / or ownership of municipalities defined in the study area, territory and territorialization are worked in the multiplicity of its historical and sociocultural events emphasizing the multiplicity of powers embodied in across multiple stakeholders / social actors involved. The different concepts of space allow for reflection on how the different stakeholders / social actors, the districts of Lençóis, Mucugê, Palmeiras, Andaraí and Ibicoara, located in Brasil, Bahia, Lisboa and Sintra / Portugal assigns unequal values in the form of the provision Pay by DAP and scenic resources for the conservation of natural resources. Finally, it is recognized that the tourism agencies, subtly guide the choice of tourist places controls and determines what should or not be seen as away of creating an identity, produces goods to be consumed according to business interests. / O estudo discute sobre a importância, desenvolvimento e aplicabilidade do método de avaliação ambiental, denominado Método de Contingência . Nessa perspectiva, a técnica desenvolvida pela Escola Neoclássica, foi complementada pela abordagem da Ciência Econômica aliada a Ciência Geográfica. Essa técnica metodológica para valoração da paisagem pode fornecer informações, que demonstrem ou não a necessidade de conservar/preservar determinadas áreas ambientais; recomendar soluções aos problemas de ocupação de territórios; programar e realizar planejamento para ocupação de áreas que causem menos impacto ao ambiente natural. Como referencial teórico incorporou-se as abordagens de produção espacial de Lefebvre, na dimensão do concebido, do vivido e do percebido, associado à obra de Milton Santos. Na base teórica desse autor buscam-se os elementos constitutivos do espaço - os homens, às firmas, as instituições, as infraestruturas e o meio ecológico, complementado com as categorias de análise - forma, função, estrutura e processo - utilizadas para abordar o espaço/território nas suas perspectivas sincrônicas, enquanto paisagem, e diacrônica como resultante de um processo. Assim, dentro do processo de dominação e/ou apropriação dos municípios delimitados na área de estudo, o território e a territorialização são trabalhados na multiplicidade de suas manifestações históricas e socioculturais enfatizando a multiplicidade de poderes, neles incorporados através dos múltiplos atores / agentes sociais envolvidos. As diferentes concepções espaciais possibilitam a reflexão, de como os diferentes atores / agentes sociais, dos municípios de Lençóis, Mucugê, Palmeiras, Andaraí e Ibicoara, localizados no Brasil/Bahia, Lisboa e Sintra/ Portugal atribui valores desiguais, na forma de Disposição a Pagar (DAP) pelos recursos paisagísticos e pela conservação dos bens naturais. Por fim, reconhece-se que as agências do turismo, sutilmente direcionam a escolha do turista, controla e determina lugares que devem, ou não ser vistos, pois longe de se criar uma identidade, produz mercadorias para serem consumidas segundo os interesses empresariais.

Orientador: Ademar Ribeiro Romeiro / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Economia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T22:05:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Oliveira_AlessandroMarquesde_M.pdf: 521110 bytes, checksum: 045f6a08d2c1a25d01406a3905e82d43 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004 / Resumo: O presente trabalho está relacionado com a questão da valoração ambiental, uma vez que a exploração inadequada das atividades agrícolas tem afetado os recursos naturais, exercendo enorme pressão ao meio ambiente, levando-o à degradação ou exaustão. A erosão é reconhecida como aquela que mais afeta o sistema de produção agrícola, estando também relacionada com a mesma. Seus efeitos incluem o aumento dos custos, que não são computados no Sistema de Contas Nacionais, recaindo sobre a sociedade toda a responsabilidade dos danos ambientais. Diante disto, este trabalho procura contabilizar os impactos econômicos causados pela erosão do solo agrícola, dentro da propriedade rural, vista como uma externalidade, na medida em que não há recompensas dos prejuízos pelos beneficiários do uso inadequado do solo. Para tanto, atribuiu-se um valor econômico à erosão do solo, usando o custo de reposição de nutrientes ajustado, para contemplar também a perda de retenção de água do solo, para o município de Santo Antônio do Jardim localizado a leste do estado de São Paulo, tendo sua economia baseada na atividade agrícola, para o período de 1995 a 2000 / Abstract: The present work is related with the question of the ambient valuation, a time that the inadequade exploration of the agricultural activities has affected the natural resources, exerting enourmous pressure to the environment, taking to degradation or exhaustion. The erosion is known as that one that affect the system of agricultural production the most, being also related with itself. Its effect includes the increase of the costs, that they are not computed in the System of National Accounts, falling again on the society all the responsibility of environment damages. Ahead of this, this work looks forward to enter the economic impacts caused by the erosion of the ground agricultural, inside of the country property, seen externaly, in the measure where it does not have you reward of the damages for the beneficiaries of the inadequade use of the ground. For in such a way, is attributed to a economic value alone erosion do, using the cost of replacement of nutrients adjusted, to also contemplate the loss of alone water retention do, for the city of Santo Antônio do Jardim, located the east of the state of São Paulo, having its economy based on the agricultural activity, for the period of 1995 the 2000 / Mestrado / Economia do Meio Ambiente / Mestre em Desenvolvimento Econômico

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-13T12:17:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO ANTONIO TADEU.pdf: 1591471 bytes, checksum: c2a31d58b09c4e2f4fd749053949dd9a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-05-19 / FAPEAM - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas / It is a fact that the population growth is responsible by demand increasing for transport services, by land, air or waterway. Given the almost nonexistence of the first two, the latter prevails in the case of the Amazon. Consisting of medium and large ships, which, it transports between 200 and 600 passengers by trip. The main consequence is the increased volume of waste generated during the travels. An alternative to this problem would be to create a tax system designed specifically to mitigate the environmental impact caused. As it is expected such taxation would minimize the adverse effects, once the obtained funds by taxation could be used to pay all or part of collection and disposal services for such wastes. Thus, it can suggest the following questions: "Would the passengers are willing to pay a monetary amount for the mitigation of environmental impact caused by solid waste generation? If so, how much is that amount? Consequently, the researched goal is to verify if the waterway transport users in Amazonas are willing to pay a monetary value, monthly, to mitigate the environmental impact resulting from waste generated during the travels. According to the results, it can conclude that users are willing to pay a value, being approximately R$ 67.00 / user / month. However, the charging of a monthly fee becomes impractical, since the frequency to use the service is not monthly, and neither constant. In this sense it is suggested that in future work should be considered a DAP value/passenger/trip. This value may also be biased by the distance or time of travel. / É fato que, com o grande crescimento da população, cresce também a demanda por serviços de transportes, sejam eles terrestres, aéreos ou marítimos. No caso da Amazônia prevalece o último. Representado em seu maior percentual por embarcações de médio e grande porte, as quais chegam a transportar de 200 a 600 passageiros em uma única viagem. A principal conseqüência disso é o aumento do volume de resíduos gerados nos deslocamentos. Uma alternativa para esse problema seria a criação de um sistema de tributação destinado especificamente à mitigação dos impactos ambientais gerados. Tendo-se como expectativa que tal tributação minimizaria os efeitos nocivos que até o momento são inevitáveis diante da ausência de infraestutura adequada para a coleta e destinação desses resíduos, uma vez que, o capital proveniente da tributação poderia ser utilizado para custear total ou parcialmente os serviços de coleta e destinação adequada para esses resíduos. Dessa forma podem-se levantar os seguintes questionamentos: Os usuários do transporte fluvial estariam dispostos a pagar um valor monetário para a mitigação dos impactos ambientais decorrentes dos resíduos sólidos gerados? Em caso afirmativo, qual seria esse valor? Consequentemente a meta almejada neste trabalho é a de verificar se os usuários do transporte fluvial que aportam no cais da Manaus Moderna, possuem disposição a pagar um valor monetário, mensal, para mitigar os impactos ambientais decorrente dos resíduos gerados durante o deslocamento. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que os usuários tem disposição a pagar, sendo esse valor de aproximadamente R$ 67,00 / usuário / mês. No entanto, a cobrança de um valor mensal torna-se impraticável, uma vez que a freqüência de uso do serviço pelos usuários não é mensal, e nem constante. Nesse sentido sugere-se que em trabalhos futuros seja considerada uma DAP por usuário por viagem. Podendo ainda esse valor ser ponderado pela distancia ou pelo tempo do deslocamento.

É possível identificar os benefícios socioeconômicos promovidos pela conservação da biodiversidade através dos serviços ambientais que uma Unidade de Conservação pode prover. É exequível traduzi-los em valores econômicos e assim demonstrar, quantitativamente, o papel significativo dessas áreas naturais protegidas. A literatura especializada em Economia do Meio Ambiente aponta a contribuição da valoração econômica ambiental para a formulação de políticas públicas responsivas à essas áreas naturais protegidas, quando os atores envolvidos em um processo decisório detêm informações sobre os bens e serviços ambientais que essas áreas oferecem à sociedade. Neste âmbito, as Unidades de Conservação podem ser consideradas peças-chaves para promover os estudos de valoração econômica ambiental, tais estudos podem contribuir com aportes a uma percepção social sobre a prioridade de criar medidas relacionadas à conservação dos benefícios ambientais contidos nessas áreas. Desse modo, o presente trabalho objetivou apresentar um panorama das iniciativas voltadas para a valoração econômica ambiental em Unidades de Conservação no contexto brasileiro, com ênfase para o Estado de São Paulo. A fim de alcançar este objetivo foram analisadas: i) a inserção da valoração econômica ambiental na agenda de pesquisa sobre as Unidades de Conservação brasileiras e ii) a inserção da valoração econômica ambiental nos Planos de Manejo das Unidades de Conservação estaduais de São Paulo. Para tanto, foi realizado um levantamento das publicações acadêmicas brasileiras sobre a temática, a partir de uma revisão bibliográfica sistemática e da análise qualitativa documental, com base na consulta dos Planos de Manejo das Unidades de Conservação estaduais de São Paulo, assim como, entrevistas com atores e instituições responsáveis pela gerência dessas áreas. O resultado permite traçar um panorama geral sobre a agenda de pesquisa, assim como, a inserção desta temática nos Planos de Manejo das Unidades de Conservação paulistas. Foi possível identificar a incipiência das iniciativas voltadas para a valoração econômica ambiental em Unidades de Conservação em ambos contextos. Em relação à agenda de pesquisa brasileira foi possível revelar a preferência da adoção metodológica de valoração advinda do mainstream neoclássico, assim como a disparidade dos estudos entre as categorias de manejo das Unidades de Conservação e entre os biomas brasileiros, prevalecendo aqueles considerados hotspots mundiais de biodiversidade. No planejamento das Unidades de Conservação paulistas, verificou-se um número ínfimo de Planos de Manejo que fazem menção à valoração econômica ambiental, além disso, não foi identificada nenhuma proposta metodológica para a implementação de programas ou projetos relacionados ao tema nessas áreas naturais protegidas. Ademais, não foi identificada uma ascensão da temática ao longo dos períodos analisados, tanto na agenda de pesquisa brasileira quanto nos Planos de Manejo das UCs estaduais de São Paulo. / The benefits of biodiversity conservation can be identified through the ecosystem services that a protected area may provide. It is feasible to translate such benefits into economic values and thus, demonstrate quantitatively the significant role of these protected natural areas. Economics of the Environment\'s literature points out the economic valuation of the environmental contribution to the formulation of responsive public policies for these protected natural areas when the involved actors in a decision-making process hold information about the environmental goods and services that these areas provide to the society. In this context, the protected areas can be considered key pieces to promote the studies of environmental economic valuation, which may contribute to a social perception about the priority of creating measures related to the conservation of the environmental benefits contained in these areas. Hence, this study aimed to present an overview of initiatives focused on environmental economic valuation of protected areas in the Brazilian\'s context with emphasis on the State of São Paulo. In order to achieve this goal these items were analyzed: i) the incorporation of environmental economic valuation on the research agenda on Brazilian protected areas and ii) the inclusion of environmental economic valuation in state management plans of protected areas of São Paulo. For the sake of this objective, we conducted a survey of Brazilian academic publications on the subject relying on a systematic literature review and documentary qualitative analysis, counting on the consultation of management plans of protected São Paulo\'s state areas, as well as interviews with actors and institutions responsible for the management of these areas. The result allows us to draw an overview of the research agenda as well as the inclusion of this issue in the Management Plans of Sao Paulo protected areas. It was possible to identify the incipient initiatives focused on environmental economic valuation of protected areas in both contexts. Regarding the Brazilian research agenda was possible to reveal the preference of adoption of methodological arising valuation of the neoclassical mainstream, as well as the gap between studies of the categories of management of protected areas, among biomes, prevailing those considered the world\'s biodiversity hotspots. In the of Sao Paulo protected areas, there was a very small number of Management Plans that make mention of environmental economic valuation, moreover, did not identify any methodological proposal for the implementation of programs or projects related to the theme in these protected natural areas. Moreover, it has no obvious rise of the theme over the period analyzed, both on the Brazilian research agenda and in the Management Plans of the state of São Paulo UCs.

Serviços Ecossistêmicos (SEco) podem ser definidos, de forma geral, como as funções, estruturas, processos naturais ou outros componentes dos ecossistemas, que fornecem, direta ou indiretamente, bem-estar para a população humana atual e futura, e afetam as pessoas e os serviços de apoio necessários para manter outros serviços. Os SEco são agrupados segundo quatros funções: regulação, provisão, suporte e cultural. As bacias dos rios Itaguaré e Guaratuba drenam uma planície costeira formada por diferentes ambientes de sedimentação (Unidades Quaternárias) de idade pleistocênica a atual. A cobertura florestal é bem preservada e forma um mosaico diversificado e condicionado à distribuição desses ambientes, e cuja associação resulta num conjunto de sub-biomas distribuídos entre a praia e a baixamédia encosta da Serra do Mar. Essas bacias abrigam seis Unidades de Conservação (UC) da natureza e terras indígenas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal identificar e valorar, em unidade monetária, os principais SEco existentes nas duas bacias. Para tanto, foi necessário construir abordagens metodológicas específicas para cada SEco identificado, baseadas na literatura disponível e/ou adaptada à área de estudo, mas sempre levando em consideração os dados ambientais e socioeconômicos disponíveis. A base espacial para a caracterização da maioria dos SEco descritos foi o mapa de sub-biomas existente. A valoração econômica dos SEco foi realizada sob a perspectiva da Economia Ambiental. Além dos SEco, foram também valorados o capital natural (recursos naturais) e o valor de existência dos ambientes naturais. Foram identificados e valorados 14 SEco, distribuídos nas seguintes funções e categorias: a) serviços de regulação regulação do clima (global e local temperatura e poluição), proteção da linha de costa oceânica, prevenção de escorregamentos, prevenção de inundações e enchentes; b) serviços de provisão oferta de água, alimentos (palmito e pescado) e matéria-prima; c) serviços culturais recreação (praia, trilhas e pesca desportiva) e ciência e educação. No que se refere ao capital natural, foi valorado o armazenamento de carbono (também conhecido como sequestro de C). O valor de existência foi atribuído para as UC e os manguezais presentes na área de estudo. Os resultados mostram que os ecossistemas das bacias dos rios Itaguaré e Guaratuba fornecem cerca de US$ 71 milhões de dólares em benefícios econômicos a cada ano, valor este 100 vezes maior que o ICMS ecológico atribuído ao município de Bertioga. O total de aproximadamente US$ 10 bilhões em valor presente líquido avaliado para cinco SEco evidencia a importância da manutenção dessas florestas e das áreas naturais protegidas para as gerações futuras, em especial para a regulação do clima e a prevenção de desastres naturais. / Ecosystem services (SEco) can be broadly defined as the functions, structures, natural processes, or other components of ecosystems that directly or indirectly provide wellbeing to the present and future human population, and affect people and support services needed to maintain other services. The SEco are grouped according to four functions: regulation, provision, support and cultural. The watersheds of the Itaguaré and Guaratuba rivers drain a coastal plain formed by different sedimentation environments (Quaternary Units) from the pleistocene to present ages. The forest cover is well preserved and forms a diverse mosaic, conditioned to the distribution of these environments, and whose association results in a set of sub-biomes distributed between the beach and the low-middle slope of the Serra do Mar. These watersheds contain six Protected Area and indigenous lands as well. The main objective of this study was to identify and apply the economic valuation in the main ecosystem services (SEco) in both watersheds. To do so, it was necessary to build specific methodological approaches for each SEco identified, based on available literature and/or adapted to the study area, but always taking into account available environmental and socioeconomic data. The spatial basis for the characterization of most of the SEco described was the map of existing sub-biomes. The economic valuation of SEco was carried out from the perspective of the Environmental Economy. In addition to SEco, the natural capital (natural resources) and the existence value of natural environments were also valued.A total of 14 SEco were identified and rated, distributed in the following functions and categories: a) regulation services - climate regulation (global and local), protection of the ocean coastline, prevention of landslides, flood and flood prevention; B) provision services - supply of water, food (heart of palm and fish) and raw materials; C) cultural services - recreation (beach, trails and sport fishing), science and education. With regard to natural capital, carbon storage (also known as C sequestration) was valued. The existence value was attributed to the Protected Areas and mangroves present in the study area.The results show that the ecosystems of the Itaguaré and Guaratuba watersheds provide about US$71 million in economic benefits each year, an amount that is 100 times greater than the ecological ICMS attributed to the municipality of Bertioga. The total of approximately US$10 billion in net present value assessed for the five SEco highlights the importance of maintaining thes forests and natural protected areas for future generations, especially for climate regulation and natural disaster prevention.

The Greater Everglades system imparts vital ecosystem services (ES) to South Florida residents including high quality drinking water supplies and a habitat for threatened and endangered species. As a result of the altered Everglades system and regional dynamics, restoration may either improve the provision of these services or impose a tradeoff between enhanced environmental goods and services and competing societal demands. The current study aims at understanding public preferences for restoration and generating willingness to pay (WTP) values for restored ES through the implementation of a discrete choice experiment. A previous study (Milon et al., 1999) generated WTP values amongst Floridians of up to $3.42 -$4.07 billion for full restoration over a 10-year period. We have collected data from 2,905 respondents taken from two samples who participated in an online survey designed to elicit the WTP values for selected ecological and social attributes included in the earlier study (Milon et al. 1999). We estimate that the Florida general public is willing to pay up to $854.1- $954.1 million over 10 years to avoid restrictions on their water usage and up to $90.8- $183.7 million over 10 years to restore the hydrological flow within the Water Conservation Area.

The purpose of this study was to provide a methodological framework for the first estimates of the total carbon storage and its economic valuation in the mangrove forests of Everglades National Park (ENP), Florida. The total carbon storage in the ENP mangroves is estimated to be 7,144 Mg C/ha, much higher than tropical, boreal and temperate forests. The final selection of carbon prices for the valuation was based on the social, economic and political milieu of the study site, the biological attributes influencing the quantity and quality of carbon storage, and the status of the ENP mangroves as a protected area. The carbon storage in ENP mangroves is estimated at $50,000/ha and $614,000/ha based on the U.S. market price and social cost of carbon, respectively. The study also estimates the change in the economic value of the carbon stock in ENP mangroves in response to different scenarios of sea level rise.

Private forest land in Mississippi provides a wide range of ecosystem services. This study examined nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowner familiarity with ecosystem services and conservation programs and quantified the proportion of forest land they were interested in managing for ecosystem services as well as determined compensation levels required for implementing forest management strategies featuring management restriction to facilitate production of multiple ecosystem services. The data collection process was based on a structured questionnaire administered to 2,025 NIPF landowners in Mississippi. Findings indicated that landowner familiarity with conservation programs was low. However, they were familiar with ecosystem services found in Mississippi. Familiarity with conservation programs was positively associated with gender, household income, possession of a forest management plan, and membership in conservation organizations. The study also determined whether landowners were interested in managing their forests for ecosystem services and the quantified proportion of forest land they would manage for such services. Findings revealed that landowners were interested in managing for multiple ecosystem services and 62% of the forest land could be available for production of such activities in the form of pine and bottomland hardwoods. The proportion of forest land that landowners were interested in managing for ecosystem services was positively associated with the percentage proportion of natural pine and bottomland hardwoods as well as personal recreation goals while negatively related to a possession of a written forest management plan. The research also used a contingent valuation to quantify monetary compensation levels that landowners were willing to accept to adopt forest management restrictions to facilitate ecosystem services. The willingness to accept (WTA) compensation levels ranged from $190.22 to $595.23/ha/year. Higher compensation was required with a higher level of management restrictions. WTA compensation to implement forest management activities was positively associated with bid level and long-term investment goal. Findings will be useful in facilitating outreach activities in terms of identifying groups of interested landowners, forest land available for multiple ecosystem service production, and quantifying the total cost of implementing forest management facilitating an increased production of ecosystem services.

Thesis (MScAgric (Agricultural Economics)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / This thesis constitutes a socio-economic study that centres on determining the economic value of groundwater in rural and agricultural uses. Limpopo Water Management Area (WMA1) and Luvuvhu/Letaba Water Management Area (WMA2) were studied in this thesis. In WMA1 table potato irrigation in the Polokwane agricultural area was studied, while Gaphago, Leokaneng, Kanana and Mohlajeng villages were studied for rural household groundwater use. In WMA2 tomato irrigation in the Mooketsi agricultural area was studied, while Lemondokop, Sereni and Hamashamba villages were studied for rural household groundwater use. Scoping field trips to the study area as well as secondary data revealed that groundwater was the dominant water source in all these selected study epicentres. In the Polokwane agricultural area, the farms typically relied on numerous boreholes. In the Mooketsi commercial farming area, groundwater was the dominant water source for most years, except when flush floods replenished farm dams. When flush floods occurred, farmers partially substituted surface water for groundwater because of economic reasons. This study determined the economic value of groundwater in two use sectors. First, determining the utility value of groundwater in selected rural households using the contingent valuation method. Utility value was defined by Dupuit (1844) and Marshall (1879) as the maximum sacrifice expressed in money terms which each consumer would be willing to make in order to acquire an object. Open-ended questions were used to determine willingness to pay during contingent household groundwater valuation. The overall mean willingness to pay for satisfactory household groundwater for the study area was R2.28 per kilolitre of groundwater.