Evaluation of Environmental Damage of Alborz Dam in Mazandaran By using the Choice Experiment Approach

Construction of large dams like the Alborz Dam despite having great economics benefit, has a lot of adverse effects on natural ecosystems and society. In this study, in the context of a benefit analysis-social cost and with quantify the monetary value of environmental damage, the value of environmental damages of Alborz Dam determined by using experience-based choice and modeling it as a multiple logit model (MNL) by using software SHAZAM.10. Also, the indicators of economic evaluation calculated in both "with and without taking into account the environmental costs” in order to show interact and clarify their sensitivity to environmental considerations. The required data were obtained through designing and completing 100 questionnaires in 1391 by interviews with families in the village of Flora and the sampling is also random. The results show that the maximum willingness to pay belongs to promote the conservation of plant species from the current crisis situation to the desired level (101/3 dollars per household in the year). Achieving to the optimum protection of animal species and forest (Respectively 23/6 and 0.516 dollars per household in the year) are in the next row of willingness to pay. Finally the results of ratio of benefit to cost show that calculate the costs of environmental damage at the cost of the dam, detracted its feasibility significantly.