Estimation Of Non-market Value Of Topsoil Stripping Based On Choice Experiment Model

Topsoil or surface soil, is the main storage of soil organic matter (SOM) and seed bank. Topsoil stripping, includes soil stripping, transporting, storing, filling, etc., can increase SOM, physical properties, crop yields and benefit to biodiversity. Recent years, people gradually began to focus on environment, biodiversity and landscape when they stripped topsoil.Topsoil stripping have both market and non-market value, as its non-market value cannot be achieved through market transactions, it is difficult to measure it with market price. So far, there are rare researchers who have pay attention to the benefit of topsoil stripping (BTS) in the domestic, let alone its non-market value. The majority of researches use indirect market assessment to analyze market value by comparing the input and output, their results may be biased and inaccurate.First of all, based on the literature review of the study on CE model (Choice Experiment, CE) and the theory, methods of non-market value of the BTS, this paper points out non-market value is an important part of the total value of the BTS which cannot be ignored. Moreover, CE is feasible to evaluate its non-market value. Then, in case of Yuyao, Zhejiang province, this paper obtains the cognition on topsoil stripping of urban and rural residents based on questionnaires, analyze their cognitive heterogeneity and possible influencing factors using CE model. Finally, urban and rural residents’ WTP (willingness to pay, WTP) for the non-market value of the BTS is evaluated and compared, and the non-market value of the BTS in Yuyao is obtained. Meanwhile, this paper investigates the reasons and its influencing factors for respondents’ unwillingness to pay.Based on it, this paper concludes that:(1) Both urban and rural residents had known the non-market value of the BTS at some certain, and recognized the importance of topsoil stripping. In the region where had been carried out topsoil stripping, a higher level of recognition had been founded.(2) The urban residents’ cognition of non-market value of the BTS was more comprehensive, rural residents paid less attention to biodiversity than urban residents. In addition, respondents believed that the government was liable to pay for topsoil stripping as well as urban developers.(3) Owing to their distrust to the government or believe that they should not pay for topsoil stripping, some respondents showed unwillingness to pay. (4) MNL model reveals individuals’heterogeneity of preferences and its possible source, and it also shows higher degree of model fit. The results show that urban residents’ WTP is generally higher than rural residents’. Urban residents’ willingness to pay per year is189.57Yuan/hu while rural residents’ is69.38Yuan/hu. Age, gender, income and attitude variables have a major impact on their WTP. In2013, non-market value of the BTS in Yuyao is659,511,200Yuan.