Quality over Quantity: Nonmarket Values of Restoring Coastal Dunes in the U.S. Pacific Northwest

We design a choice experiment to examine public preferences for coastal dune ecosystem restoration in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Dunes are good whose natural state is now rare. Respondents asked choose among hypothetical projects that vary by project size, quality, recreation access, flooding risk, and cost. Restoration quality defined as closeness ecosystem. find increasing results significantly higher welfare gains than size of area. Maintaining access preferred, programs with restrictions yield positive willingness pay only if accompanied highest quality.