Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluating value of natural landscapes in China

  • Published:
Chinese Geographical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Natural landscapes consist of the natural substances, environment, and phenomena, all of which provide many benefits to people, including a sense of place, sightseeing, relaxing, and recuperating. However, the economic value of natural landscapes has only been recognized in recent decades, and the resulting large-scale decline and degradation of ecosystems now severely threatens the sustainable provision of their services to society. There is an emerging consensus that natural capital should be incorporated into the current socioeconomic accounting system. Many studies valuated natural resources at local and regional scales, but there are very few empirical studies at a national level. To provide a benchmark for natural landscape management on a national scale, we use the travel cost method (TCM) and the contingent valuation method (CVM) to determine the economic value and the spatial distribution of natural landscapes across China. Our results show that the total economic value of China′s natural landscape was 9.75 × 1011 U.S. dollars (USD) in 2012. Of this value, the highest proportion was in the eastern and southwestern regions of China, which accounts for 23.7% and 18.3%, respectively. The provinces of Guangdong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, and Heilongjiang were the top five in terms of the largest number of natural landscapes and largest economic values. Together, these five provinces accounted for 32.9% of the total number of natural landscapes and 29.4% of the total economic value in 2012. We believe this study will increase awareness of the value of natural landscapes, and more importantly provide a scientific basis for resolving conflicts between development and resource conservation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bateman I J, Brainard J S, Lovett A A et al., 1999. The impact of measurement assumptions upon individual travel cost estimates of consumer surplus: a GIS analysis. Regional Environmental Change, 1(1): 24–30. doi: 10.1007/s10113 0050005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bateman I J, Carson R T, Day B et al., 2002. Economic Valuation with Stated Preference Techniques: A Manual. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bergstrom J C, Stoll J R, Titre J P et al., 1990. Economic value of wetlands-based recreation. Ecological Economics, 2(2): 129–147. doi: 10.1016/0921-8009(90)90004-E

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bin O, Landry C E, Ellis C L et al., 2005. Some consumer surplus estimates for North Carolina beaches. Marine Resource Economics, 20(2): 145–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blakemore F, Williams A, 2008. British tourists’ valuation of a Turkish Beach using contingent valuation and travel cost methods. Journal of Coastal Research, 246: 1469–1480. doi: 10.2112/06-0813.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boxall P C, Adamowicz W L, Swait J et al., 1996. A comparison of stated preference methods for environmental valuation. Ecological Economics, 18(3): 243–253. doi: 10.1016/0921-8009(96)00039-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown W G, Nawas F, 1973. Impact of aggregation on the estimation of outdoor recreation demand functions. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 55(2): 246–249. doi: 10.2307/1238448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carson R T, Mitchell R C, 1993. The value of clean water: the public’s willingness to pay for boatable, fishable, and swimmable quality water. Water Resources Research, 29: 2445–2454. doi: 10.1029/93WR00495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caulkins P P, Bishop R C, Bouwes N W, 1986. The travel cost model for lake recreation: a comparison of two methods for incorporating site quality and substitution effects. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 68(2): 291–297. doi: 10.2307/1241430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Fu, Zhang Jie, 2001. Analysis on capialization accounting of travel value—a case study of Jiuzhaigou scenic spot. Journal of Nanjing University, 37(3): 296–303. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Yingfa, Chen angming, 1994. Two popular methods for forest tourism valuation abroad. Journal of Beijing Forest University, 16(3): 97–105. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Yingfa, 1996. Cost method: a practical valuation method to evaluate forest recreational value. Ecological Economy, (3): 27–31. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Clawson M, Kentsch J L, 1966. Economics of Outdoor Recreation. Maryland: The Johns Hopkins Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daily G C, 1997. Nature’s Services: Societal Dependence on Natural Ecosystems. Washington: Island Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman A M, 2003. The Measurements of Environmental and Resource Values: Theory and Methods. Washington: RFF Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrod G, Willis K G, 1999. Economic Valuation of the Environment: Methods and Case Studies. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Pub, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenley D A, Walsh R G, Young R A, 1981. Option value: empirical evidence from a case study of recreation and water quality. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 96(4): 657–673. doi: 10.2307/1880746

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanley N, Barbier E, 2009. Pricing Nature: Cost-benefit Analysis and Environmental Policy. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Pub.

    Google Scholar 

  • He Shuping, Liu Jing, 2008. The consumer surplus in western economics. Journal of Harbin University of Commerce, 99(2): 111–114. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jim C, Chen W Y, 2006. Recreation–amenity use and contingent valuation of urban greenspaces in Guangzhou, China. Landscape and Urban Planning, 75: 81–96. doi: 10.1016/j. landurbplan.2004.08.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim S G, Bowker J M, Cho S H et al., 2010. Estimating travel cost model: spatial approach. Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee C K, Han S Y, 2002. Estimating the use and preservation values of national parks tourism resources using a contingent valuation method. Tourism Management, 23: 531–540. doi: 10.1016/S0261-5177(02)00010-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Na, Pan Wen, 2010. Using travel cost interval analysis to evaluate the recreational benefits of Shennongjia Nature Reserve. Ecological Economy, (1): 35–41. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Xueyan, 2010. Evaluation of recreation value of Canus scenes’ tourism resources. Forest Resources Management, 4: 88–92. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Xianghua, 2007. The theoretic improvement and its application of CVM in the valuation if Qixinghe wetland services. Ecological Environment, (2): 317–320. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Loomis J, Tadjion O, Watson P et al., 2008. A hybrid individual: zonal travel cost model for estimating the consumer surplus of golfing in Colorado. journal of Sports Economics, 10(2): 155–167. doi: 10.1177/1527002508320136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma Jianying, Sun Xuegang, 2001. Review of studies on forest tourism resource evaluation. Journal of Gansu Agricultural University, 36(4): 357–363. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma Zhong, 2006. Introduction of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. Beijing: Higher Education Press. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendes I, 2002. Travel and On Site Recreation Time: An Empirical Approach to Value the Recreation Benefits of Peneda-Gerês National Park. Lisbon: IATUR’s 2002 Conference.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preez M D, Hosking S, 2010. Estimating the recreational value of freshwater inflows into the Klein and Kwelera estuaries: an application of the zonal travel cost method. Water SA, 36(5): 553–561.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh R G, Loomis J B, Gillman R A, 1984. Valuing option, existence, and bequest demands for wilderness. Land Economics, 60(1): 14–29. doi: 10.2307/3146089

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Huijuan, 2011. A brief talk of natural landscape aesthetics of Fuping Tianshengqiao scenic spot in Hebei Province. Tourism Overview, (7): 106–108. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis K, Benson J, 1989. Recreational values of forests. Forestry, 62(2): 93–110. doi: 10.1093/forestry/62.2.93-a

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willis K G, Garrod G, 1991. An individual travel: cost method of evaluating forest recreation. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 42(1): 33–42. doi: 10.1111/j.1477-9552.1991.tb00 330.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie Zhengxian, Ma Zhong, 2006. Evaluating recreation value of Mount. Huang using travel cost method. Resources Science, 28(3): 128–136. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xue Dayuan, Bao Haosheng, Li Wenhua, 1999. A study on tourism value of biodiversity in Changbaishan mountain biosphere reserve in northeast China. Journal of Natural Resources, 14(2): 140–145. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang W, Chang J, Xu B et al., 2008. Ecosystem service value assessment for constructed wetlands: a case study in Hangzhou, China. Ecological Economics, 68: 116–125. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.02.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu Yang, Wang Erda, Zhao Ling et al., 2009. Documentation study of economic valuation on recreational tourism resources. East China Economic Management, 23(9): 140–145. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Jinquan, 2007. The study of non use value evaluation of Huangshan mountain based on CVM. Shanghai: Shanghai Normal University. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Xiaoli, Ma Li, Lu Xiaozhen et al., 2011. Research on the evaluation method of recreation value: a case study of Fengyangshan National Nature Reserve. China Population, Resources and Environment, 21(3): 213–216. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China

    Yi Xiao, Cheng Cheng, Zhiyun Ouyang & Enming Rao

  2. Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive Suite 500, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA

    Wu Yang

Authors
  1. Yi Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cheng Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wu Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhiyun Ouyang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Enming Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cheng Cheng.

Additional information

Foundation item: Under the auspices of National Science and Technology Support Program (No. 2011BAC09B08-02)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xiao, Y., Cheng, C., Yang, W. et al. Evaluating value of natural landscapes in China. Chin. Geogr. Sci. 26, 244–255 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-015-0795-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-015-0795-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation