Assessing the Conservation Value of Rig Ishaqabad Rangeland of Sirjan Using Contingent Valuation Method

Rangelands are one of the most important natural resources of Iran in terms of its vastness and ecosystem values. Therefore, in this research, the conservation value of Rig Ishaqabad, Sirjan county, Kerman province, rangeland has been estimated using the One- and- One- Half- Bounded Dichotomous Conditional Valuation method. Influential factors on willingness of individuals payment for protect the rangeland also have been investigated using the logit model and the maximum likelihood estimation. The sample size was 133 persons based on Mitchell and Carson method. Required data were collected through questionnaire and direct interview with 140 people in the study area. The results showed that the number of family size, locality, the importance of environmental protection, the membership in environmental organizations and the monthly cost of recreation were positive variables. On the other side age and bid price were two negative variables on the willingness to pay. According to the calculations, the monthly willingness to pay per Sirjani household was 85731.5 Rials. Results also showed that the total monthly and annual conservation value of Rig Ishaqabad rangeland of Sirjan are 7.0 and 84.6 milliard Rials, respectively. On this basis the total annual conservation value of each hectare was estimated as 6.6 million Rials that indicates the high importance of this rangeland from the people’s perspective is in the region.