Choice-experiment valuation of management alternatives for reintroduction of the endangered mountain goral in Woraksan National Park, South Korea

The increasing number of endangered species worldwide coupled with increasing management costs makes it imperative that decision makers understand the public's willingness to pay (WTP) for management alternatives. Few studies have attempted to estimate the public's WTP for different management strategies. The objective of this study was to estimate the WTP for various management attributes associated with the Korean mountain goral, an endangered species. Using primary data from a survey of visitors to Woraksan National Park, South Korea, WTP was estimated using a choice experiment format. Besides continued reintroduction, management practices valued were establishment of a core zone, establishment of a core plus a buffer preservation zone, and education concerning management of the goral. Specifically, WTP for increasing the number of gorals from the current status of 10 animals to 50 animals was approximately US $13.06 per household, whereas WTP for an increase from 10 to 200 gorals was $18.06 per household. WTP for a core zone was $20.34 per household, whereas WTP for a core zone plus buffer zone was $36.01 per household, giving a WTP of $15.67 per household for the buffer zone. Respondents' WTP for increasing education from 5% to 40% of the residents was $7.32 per household, which was smaller than increasing education levels from 40% to 60% of the residents ($11.96).