Identifying Natural Resources along Tehran- Shomal Freeway for Analyzing Non-Use Values

The conservation of wealthy natural resources along the Tehran- Shomal freeway route has been a serious challenge for environment fans and policymakers. Accordingly, after about twenty years of the project start, the route has not been still completed. The lack of transparency of the monetary value for natural resources along the route is one of mentioned lag. First, It has been studied the natural resources using GIS in the current study. Then it has been estimated non-use values of natural resources along the route with CVM via WTP. Contingent valuation method is the just method can be used in protective values which have not any market price. The map of natural resources illustrated the most land use in 1 km buffer was belong to rangelands and forests. According to the current results, 85% of respondents stated the pay attention to natural resources along Tehran- Shomal route is important, although there is a deep sadness about travel safety. Finally, the survey results demonstrated that the majority of respondents are willing to pay money for protection of natural resources along the freeway route which is about 0.4 percent of their monthly income.