The Value of Wetlands in Quebec: a Comparaison between Contingent Valuation and Choice Experiment

This study aims to evaluate the non-market values of ecosystem services generated by wetlands in Southern Quebec. To accomplish this, we evaluated the value of wetland services related to 1) habitat for biodiversity, 2) flood control, 3) water quality and 4) climate regulation. Two non-market valuation methods are proposed, contingent valuation (CV) and choice experiment (CE). Our study aims to measure both the population’s willingness to pay for wetland preservation and restoration and to understand which environmental attributes and socio-economic characteristics motivate people’s responses. We also compared the results of the two methods used. We hope that the results of this study will help to advance our understanding of how wetlands contribute to the welfare of Quebec communities and to promote the integration of these values into laws, policies and regulations that govern land use in Quebec.