Factors Affecting the Willingness to Pay for the Protection of the Di River: an Approach Using the Box-Cox Double Hurdle Model

Abstract

The Di River, located in West Africa between Burkina Faso and Mali, is a subject of concern to its users. Using econometric models of choice behavior, the determining factors of local populations’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the restoration of the riverbanks are either individual or collective variables. The latter variables imply that data collection focused on common characteristics of the population rather than intrinsic characteristics. Most determining factors have a positive effect on willingness to pay, which is especially observed with subjective or individual variables and reflects the very moderate investment that local populations are willing to make. However, that is also indicative of the potential to achieve sustainable management in such a way that personal factors contribute to increasing the WTP. In addition, the variable related to the level of education of a respondent reveals a willingness to pay a nonfinancial contribution for the restoration of the riverbanks and sustainable management of the resource.