Valuing the non-market benefits of wild goose conservation: a comparison of interview and group-based approaches

Wild geese graze on improved pastures and young cereal crops and hence can cause considerable damage to agriculture, particularly in areas close to roosting sites. This study uses contingent valuation (CV) to establish whether government compensation payments currently made to farmers represent 'value for money' by estimating the value placed on goose conservation by the general public. Benefit estimates from a conventional interview approach are compared with a group-based approach, called the 'Market Stall (MS)'. This involves two 1 h meetings held 1 week apart and differs from conventional interviews in that participants are given more time to consider their preferences and to discuss their WTP question with other household members. We argue that this type of group-based approach to environmental valuation offers important advantages over individual interview approaches, especially for unfamiliar and/or complex environmental goods.