Estimation of conservation value of Shimbar forest area using CVM and AHP Methods

Shimbar Protected Area is located in the protected area of ​​Masjed Soleyman city, 80 km northeast of it. The purpose of this study is to estimate the conservation value of Shimbar protected area using conditional valuation method and hierarchical analysis process.

A qualitative model and a questionnaire were used to assess the factors affecting the willingness to pay. The required data were collected by completing a questionnaire and face-to-face interviews with 380 visitors in CVM method and 17 questionnaires in AHP method per year.

The conditional valuation method has been used to determine the conservation value of the Shimbar protected area and the AHP method has been used to determine the consumption and non-consumption values. The average willingness to pay individuals per year and the total protective value for estimating the protective value was 11356 and 1473/1073 Tomans, respectively. According to the AHP method, hereditary, existential, optional, indirect consumption and direct consumption values were ranked 1 to 5 with weights, respectively.

Therefore, considering the high share of heritage value and the importance of this criterion, which includes a major share of the value of all natural resources, including protected areas, which should be given special attention in policy-making.