The Total Economic Value of wetlands in a European Region

The Contingent Valuation Method was used to elicit willingness to pay an annual tax to preserve the Region of Veneto (Italy) wetlands. The Total Economic Value of the regional wetlands was evaluated by means of a survey. The respondents were representative of the regional population in terms of spatial proximity to wetlands, socio-cultural membership, rural/urban distribution, and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. The mean value obtained was 62.12 €/year/family. The analysis of the social awareness of the multiple wetland functions was performed using a multivariate logit model, which suggested a clear perception of some functions (recreation and habitat), and a weak perception of other “environmental based” functions (water quality improvement, flood protection, etc.). The Total Economic Value was statistically explained by several expected variables for this kind of estimation (income level, study level, membership of interest groups), but not by the variables related to the awareness of the wetlands environmental functions (water reservoir, flood control, yields production, barrier against weather events, depuration). Given the growing role of wetlands in water resource management, a stronger public information-training effort on the multiple wetlands goods and services seems urgent.