Dr. Luke Brander

Luke recently published this paper, which estimates the non-use values provided by marine turtles in Asia-Pacific — a region characterised by the highest diversity of marine turtles, gravest threats and ongoing population decline. The study uses a large-sample (n =7765) global household survey with a focus on six countries in the region (China, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam) and received responses from over 80 countries in total. A discrete choice experiment was used to elicit willingness-to-pay (WTP) for marine turtles, defined in terms of population trends (increasing, stable or declining) and species diversity (avoided extinctions). We find that a high proportion of households (82%) express a positive WTP for turtle conservation, and that the donation amounts are substantial. The median WTP for ensuring stable marine turtle populations, adjusted for demographic differences between the survey sample and the general population, is estimated at US $79 per household per year.

The paper can be accessed here