Estimating Value of Non Use Services of Agricultural Lands for Residents with Choice Experiment Method(Case of Mazandaran Province)

Neglecting objectives such as environmental and social values of various land use, has resulted in irreversible conversion of agricultural lands to urban and industrial lands. In Mazandarn province despite the existence of very fertile agricultural lands and unique nature, abnormal development of tourism has caused increase in demands for second home and villa and extensive change in agricultural land use that may have considerable economic, social and environmental damages for this region. This study estimate value of non-use services of agricultural lands form residents viewpoint, which will be completely disappeared by building. Results show that, depend on type of land, resident’s willingness to pay to preserve agricultural lands varies up 22.6 million Rial for dry lands to 113.26 million Rial for gardens. Average willingness to pay for paddy fields, is estimated to be 105.119 million Rial. The results indicate agricultural lands have high non-market benefits that not considered in cost-benefit analysis of national projects.