Choice consistency and preference stability in test-retests of discrete choice experiment and open-ended willingness to pay elicitation formats

This study was funded by the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) in Zürich.This study tests the temporal stability of preferences, choices and willingness to pay (WTP) values using both discrete choice experiment (DCE) and open-ended (OE) WTP elicitation formats. The same sample is surveyed three times over the course of two years using each time the same choice sets. Choice consistency is positively correlated with choice certainty and choice complexity. The impact of choice complexity fades away in time, most likely as a result of learning and preference refinement. Although the OE WTP values remain stable over a time period of 2 years as in previous stated preference studies, DCE based WTP measures differ significantly, suggesting their use in benefits transfer may be limited.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Methods to Assess Costs of Drought Damages and Policies for Drought Mitigation and Adaptation: Review and Recommendations

This article examines available methods for assessing all types of drought costs, including both damage costs and costs arising from adopting policy measures to encourage mitigation of, and adaptation to, droughts. It first discusses damage costs, distinguishing between direct, indirect and non-market costs. Then it examines the suitability of existing methods for estimating drought costs in different economic sectors, their underlying theoretical assumptions, complementarity between different methods, and conditions relevant for their application. The latter include precision, ability to deal with future climate change risks, data needs and availability, and required financial and human resources. The article further considers potential policies for drought mitigation and adaptation and different cost types associated with them. It ends with providing recommendations for good practices regarding the use of methods as well as drought mitigation and adaptation policie

PREGLED PRINCIPA I METODA VREDNOVANJA DOBARA I USLUGA IZ OKOLIŠA

Priroda nam pruža brojna dobra i usluge koje čine život na Zemlji mogućim. Dobra i usluge iz okoliša najčešće nemaju tržišnu cijenu i smatramo ih besplatnima. Međutim, oni zapravo vrijede milijarde dolara i pružaju važan doprinos gospodarstvu i ljudskom blagostanju. Postojeći ekonomski sustavi i politika ne vrednuju okoliš i prirodne resurse adekvatno. Vrednovanje dobara i usluga iz okoliša jedno je od glavnih područja kojim se bavi ekonomika okoliša. Ono omogućuje procjenu tržišnih i netržišnih ekonomskih vrijednosti dobara i usluga iz okoliša. Glavni cilj vrednovanja dobara i usluga iz okoliša je učiniti njihove koristi vidljivima i time istaknuti njihovu važnost te omogućiti njihovo uzimanje u obzir u procesima donošenja odluka. Ovaj članak pruža uvid u vrste ekonomskih vrijednosti dobara i usluga iz okoliša, postupak vrednovanja i raspoložive metode koje se koriste za vrednovanje, s primjerima vrednovanja dobara i usluga iz okoliša iz Hrvatske

Characterization of clays from Slatina (Ub, Serbia) for potential uses in the ceramic industry

This study focuses on the mineralogical and thermal properties of clay from "Slatina" deposit, Ub, Serbia. Sampled clays were analysed by XRD, IR spectroscopy, ICP-OES, DTA, specific surface area (SSA), cationic exchange capacity (CEC), gravimetric and grain size measurements. Results show that the studied samples have a medium content of smectite-illite minerals with smaller amount of kaolinite together with quartz, feldspars and goethite. They consist generally of fine particles with medium to high plasticity. Based on their mineral composition and physical properties (grain size, plasticity, CEC) the clays are suitable as raw material for the ceramics industry

Disentangling the complexity of socio-cultural values of temporary rivers

Gefördert durch den Publikationsfonds der Universität Kasse

Disentangling the complexity of socio-cultural values of temporary rivers

In the last decade, an awareness towards temporary rivers has increased globally in response to drying climates and growing human demand for water. However, social perceptions of temporary rivers have rarely been incorporated in their science and management. In this study, we advance an understanding of the socio-cultural values of temporary rivers principally in a European context. We used an ecosystem services-based approach for a participatory and deliberative exercise with 16 researchers and managers. Our results point out to two important aspects of socio-cultural values in temporary rivers. First, cultural ecosystem services have high socio-cultural values and usually represent the interests of the less influential stakeholders in related conflicts. And second, the temporal and geographical variability of these types of rivers is key to understand their socio-cultural values. As an example, the low provision of freshwater in a long non-flowing phase is one of the reasons for its high value. The results above point to future research needs that deserve more attention like the study of tradeoffs and synergies of ecosystem services and interdisciplinary research and management. We finally acknowledge the need to conduct case study research to account for geographical variation and to include the multiple views of different stakeholder groups

Linking human impacts to community processes in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems

Human impacts such as habitat loss, climate change and biological invasions are radically altering biodiversity, with greater effects projected into the future. Evidence suggests human impacts may differ substantially between terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, but the reasons for these differences are poorly understood. We propose an integrative approach to explain these differences by linking impacts to four fundamental processes that structure communities: dispersal, speciation, species-level selection and ecological drift. Our goal is to provide process-based insights into why human impacts, and responses to impacts, may differ across ecosystem types using a mechanistic, eco-evolutionary comparative framework. To enable these insights, we review and synthesise (i) how the four processes influence diversity and dynamics in terrestrial versus freshwater communities, specifically whether the relative importance of each process differs among ecosystems, and (ii) the pathways by which human impacts can produce divergent responses across ecosystems, due to differences in the strength of processes among ecosystems we identify. Finally, we highlight research gaps and next steps, and discuss how this approach can provide new insights for conservation. By focusing on the processes that shape diversity in communities, we aim to mechanistically link human impacts to ongoing and future changes in ecosystems

Linking human impacts to community processes in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.

Human impacts such as habitat loss, climate change and biological invasions are radically altering biodiversity, with greater effects projected into the future. Evidence suggests human impacts may differ substantially between terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, but the reasons for these differences are poorly understood. We propose an integrative approach to explain these differences by linking impacts to four fundamental processes that structure communities: dispersal, speciation, species-level selection and ecological drift. Our goal is to provide process-based insights into why human impacts, and responses to impacts, may differ across ecosystem types using a mechanistic, eco-evolutionary comparative framework. To enable these insights, we review and synthesise (i) how the four processes influence diversity and dynamics in terrestrial versus freshwater communities, specifically whether the relative importance of each process differs among ecosystems, and (ii) the pathways by which human impacts can produce divergent responses across ecosystems, due to differences in the strength of processes among ecosystems we identify. Finally, we highlight research gaps and next steps, and discuss how this approach can provide new insights for conservation. By focusing on the processes that shape diversity in communities, we aim to mechanistically link human impacts to ongoing and future changes in ecosystems