Willingness to pay for water ecosystem services in a river basin of the in South America largest semi-arid region

Disposição a pagar pelos serviços ecossistêmicos da água em uma bacia hidrográfica da maior região semiárida da América do Sul

Abstract

This study presents the result on the Willingness To Pay (WTP) of Ecosystem Services (ES) regulating water a Brazilian watershed. The Brazilian semi-arid region is the largest semi-arid region in South America, this area is ranked as the most populated semi-arid region in the world. 393 questionnaires were applied using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). Of the respondents in the basin territory, over (77.9%) expressed a positive WTP for maintaining the (SE) of Water. The payment for the conservation of the (ES) water regulators was R$10.00/month, the quality of water purification seemed to be an important aspect in terms of the value assigned in the payment. On the other hand, the protest votes for non-payment, which were (22.1%), pointed to the payment of too many taxes. The (WTP) for water conservation was defined by environmental interest and the loss of the (SES) provided Caatinga.

Palavras-chave:
Caatinga; Environmental Valuation; Management of river basins