Willingness-to-pay for water resource protection in El Salvador

Estimates of the economic value that the society assigns to improved water resources may help prioritize public investments in watershed protection. Using a contingent valuation survey, this study elicited household willingness to pay for watershed protection in two poor, semi-urban communities in El Salvador. Findings indicate that local households have strong preferences for protecting their watershed. The average willingness to pay is estimated at three US dollars per month, equivalent to 1.5% of the average monthly household income. Results also suggest that there is a significant willingness to pay differential between studied communities, and that more educated respondents are willing to pay more for watershed protection than less educated individuals. These estimates have the potential to influence investment decisions regarding watershed conservation in semi-urban areas.