Recreation Valuation of Arghavan Forest Reserves in Ilam Province using Contingent Valuation Method (CVM)

The aim of this study is to determine the recreation value of Arghavan Forest Reserve in the county of Ilam using contingent valuation method. To determine the influencing factors on the probability of willingness to pay (WTP) of visitors, Logit model was applied using maximum likelihood estimation. Required information were collected via questionnaires and interviews with 245 visitors from the area in 2014. The results showed that 90% of respondents are willing to pay for recreational use of the forest area. Education, income and age variables have a significant positive effect and the variables of offered price, household size and numbers of visits from the region have a significant negative effect on the probability of willingness to pay. The mean of willingness to pay for recreational use of the area was estimated 10202 Rial/person. The annual recreational value of Arghavan Forest Reserve was also estimated 15054352398.33 Rials for total area and 88555014.10 Rials per hectare. The results of the study show that the people are aware of the importance of forest resources and there is a significant willingness to pay to improve and to develop the resources for recreational and protection uses. The results can provide conditions for policy-makers and responsible people in natural resources of Ilam province to conserve and protect more these forest resources.