Valoração Econômica de Áreas de Recreação O Caso do Parque Metropolitano de Pituaçu, Salvador, BA

Abstract

In urban centers the conception and maintenance of public areas, which are designated to environmental preservation, leisure and recreation, have been a challenge faced by public managers. In an in-expansion area of Salvador, the Metropolitan Park of Pituaçu, with an expressive green area designated to the citizens use, is under environmental risk indicators and became a fragile natural resource. The aim of this study is to estimate the value to maintain the functions of the Metropolitan Park of Pituaçu, by Contingent Valuation Method (MVC), through an application of a survey, composed of socioeconomic and attitudinal variables. In this case, it is characterized by hypothetical market, where the park users were questioned on their willingness to pay (WTP) for the maintenance of the functions of natural resources in two situations: a) by a spontaneous question and b) by a induced question for users that present no value for the first question, independently on the reason that was given. For spontaneous WTP, it was observed that 55,2% of users were disposed to pay an average value of R$ 6.48/month, which correspond to an annual amount of R$ 2,286,144.00. By the induced question, where a hypothetical and temporal scenario was build up, an increment of 8,2% in the answers willingness to pay was reached, showing an average WTP of R$ 7.72/month, that results in an annual amount to the users of PMP of R$ 2,723,616.00, that is equivalent to a difference of R$ 437,472.00 or 19.1%. The statistical analyses allowed identifying that the attitudinal variables were determinants to WTP of users. According to the benefits that were estimated by the MAC, the values of willingness to pay supported the operational costs for the maintenance of the Park. Despite the limitations of the method, to obtain a reference value to the Metropolitan Park of Pituaçu can provide subsidies to the public policies to deal with the management process of this natural resource, also working as a parameter to economic instrument application and financial compensation of social and environmental damages. Environmental evaluation. Environmental economy. Contingent Valuation Method. Metropolitan Park of Pituaçu. Bahia.