The Economic Valuation Of Wildlife Resources Conservation

Lack of a proper valuation may entail an inefficient use of resources. This paper examines the economic value of wildlife resources in West Kilimanjaro range lands using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). Specifically, it analyses the nature of the resources use, the value that people place on the resources and the motives behind the unsustainable use of the same. It does so using some primary data which were collected in a survey which was conducted involving 6 villages out of the 9 villages which make up the Eduimet Wildlife Management Area (WMA) within west Kilimanjaro range lands. The key findings of this paper were that the majorities were willing to conserve the resources thus revealing the value they place on the them. However, there were still some drawbacks in the conservation of the wildlife resources which needed a policy attention. These among others involved the unsustainable use of the resources intensified by poor monitoring of the licensed hunters motivated by the lucrative bush meat business and other motives.