title: Valuation of environmental improvements in a specially protected marine area: a choice experiment approach in Göcek Bay, Turkey.
abstract: Although the Göcek Bay area was declared as a specially protected area by General Directorate of Natural Assets Protection, the region is threatened because of pollution resulting from increased boat tourism and lack of efficient policies. Extensive measures are being planned in order to protect the region. Coastal management requires the use of technical, social political and economic tools to create a comprehensive management strategy. For environmental investments, it is necessary that benefits and the costs of environmental improvements should be identified in monetary terms in order to determine the feasibility of the investments. The aim of this study is to determine the benefits of the management alternatives to improve environmental quality in Göcek Bay to aid decision makers. In this study, the environmental benefits that can be obtained with improved water quality and restored marine ecosystem were calculated using the Choice Experiment Method, a non-market valuation technique. Data were analyzed using Multinomial Logit Model and the results showed that, local residents and tourists are willing to pay 18TL/month and 16.6TL/tour, respectively for improvements in water quality. For improvements in marine life, local residents are willing to pay 14.8TL/month and tourists are willing to pay 11.2TL/tour. With this study, it has been seen that the results obtained will pave the way for new policies and measures against the deterioration of the marine environment of Göcek Bay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Üniversiteler Mah, Dumlupınar Blv. 06800 Çankaya-Ankara, Turkey. cozge@metu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Özge
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Can
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alp
mesh_terms: D061006:Bays / Q000032:analysis*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005376:Financial Management; D033161:Government Regulation; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011998:Recreation; D014421:Turkey; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*