Ecosystem Service Valuation of Watershed Restoration in the Shiyang River Basin under Heterogeneous Preferences

Evaluations connect ecosystem and human welfare to achieve restoration. There have been an increasing number of studies conducted on various ecosystem service assessments, but little research has focused on inland river basins playing a critical role in development in northwestern China. The distinct differences in natural endowment, socioeconomic characteristics among the upper, middle and downstream inland river basin require heterogeneity during evaluation. The objective of this study was to verify the existence of population preference heterogeneity and examine impact factors using choice experiment surveys in the Shiyang River Basin, China. A mixed logit model using data from 714 households across the entire basin estimated mean willingness to pay and the standard deviation for ecological attributes. Ordinary least squares（OLS） was employed to estimate the effects of exogenous variables on all willingness to pay estimations. The results demonstrate that ecosystem service values are heterogeneous among people. Willingness to pay is affected by personal and regional characteristics. Government involvement will be required to seek differentiated ecosystem services values among populations and facilitate public support.

How does heterogeneity in dwelling type preferences relate to housing and built environment characteristics?

Understanding housing preferences is critical for successful compact city development.However,there is limited research on understanding preference heterogeneity in dwelling type choices.Using the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey,this paper identifies the key housing and built environment characteristics associated with changes in dwelling type choice from detached houses to high-density.A latent class choice model captures the heterogeneity of dwelling type preferences within a traditionally low-density city,Brisbane,Australia.Findings reveal six household classes with distinct dwelling preferences:Class 1(senior households without children with other family members)and Class 2(couple families with children)in inner-city areas,Class 3(high-income young households)and Class 4(low-income households without children)in middle-city areas,Class 5(low-income families with children)and Class 6(middle-income young families without children)in outer-city areas.Residential environments with better access to educational facilities encourage Classes 3 and 6 to change to high-density living.Greater land use diversity encourages Classes 2,3,and 6 to move towards high-density living.Thefindings can be used to design and improve high-density housing for targeted population groups across inner-,middle-and outer-city areas.