Mr. somkiat chaipiboon Economic Valuation of the Community Forest at Ban Mon Ngo, Muaeng Kai, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai

Abstract

The objective of the study were to: 1) asses economic valuation of Ban Mon Ngo community forest; 2) assess willingness to play the community forest fund of Ban Mon Ngo of sample group living and not living in Ban Mon Ngo village; and 3) investigate factors effecting in willingness to pay Community forest fund. Contingent valuation method (CVM) and double bounded close - ended were employed for the sample group of 210 people living in Ban Mon Ngo village (20, 50 and 110 baht per year) and those (600 people) not living in Ban Mon Ngo village but work or travelled in Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai Province (50, 100, 250 and 500 baht per year). Data were gained form questionnaire and secondary data analyzed by using censored regression model. Findings showed that the value of Ban Mon Ngo community forest use was 3,649.10 baht per household per year (Total of 554,662.29 baht). Meanwhile, an average mean score of the fund payment willingness of those living in Ban Mon Ngo village was 71.11 baht per person per year. Factors effecting their fund payment willingness were a number of household member, household income and time span of the community forest use. For those not living in Ban Mon Ngo village, an average mean score of the fund payment willingness was 142.58 baht per person per year. Factors of effecting their fund payment willingness were age, education attainment and incomes.