Interdisciplinary research on ecosystem valuation with reference to quality of life

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K12257
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Environmental and ecological symbiosis
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Sato Masayuki 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 准教授 (10437254)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 丑丸 敦史 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 教授 (70399327) ; 片桐 恵子 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 准教授 (80591742)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TAKAMI Yasuoki 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 准教授 (60432358) ; MINAMOT Toshifumi 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 准教授 (50450656) ; ITO Masayuki 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 教授 (40213087)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 都市生態系 / 生態系サービス / 生活の質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research investigated ecosystem valuation around Mt. Rokko, which is located near Kobe, a major city in Japan. Special attention was paid to how differences in lifestyle and experiences of valuators influence willingness to pay. It was found that certain experiences had a significant effect on valuation of ecosystem services. From psychological analysis, it was also found that psychological measure offered the different results from welfare measure.
These findings suggest the importance of considering the diversity of valuators, and it also warns the extinction of experience with nature under on going urbanization for urban ecosystem conservation. This research concludes that measurement approach, recognition process, urbanization and lifestyle change are important in ecosystem service valuation.

Free Research Field

環境経済学