Economic valuation of wetland ecosystems: a case study of Ondiri swamp in Kiambu, Kenya

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to establish the economic value of Ondiri swamp. Apart from determining the available resources and services provided by the wetland, the study further attempted to append value to the swamp as option value under the Total Economic Value (TEV) Framework. The Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) was used to establish how much the residents were willing to pay for the conservation of the swamp. The study focused on households within the Kikuyu Township sub-location within which the swamp is located. This was due to the fact that these were the people who are likely to benefit mo?t from the swamp or be most affected as a result of its degradation. A sample size of 94 was chosen from households both from rural and urban enumeration areas and from the swamp site. Both primary and secondary data was used. Face to face interviews and field observations were employed in data collection. The main challenge of this study was to provide sufficient incentives for respondents in order for them to come up with a realistic payment (WTP). There was qualitative and quantitative analyses of the data with the aid of the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Scientists) technique. Simple descriptives such as averages and percentages were used and advanced statistical analysis undertaken to determine the correlation and regression of data variables. The study estimated the value of Ondiri swamp at about Kshs. l.5 million. The study established that Ondiri swamp provides various resources and services to the people living in its environs with water supply being the key among them. It further outlined that there were no restrictions on the exploitation of the Wetland resources at Ondiri Swamp. The study established that the swamp operates as a common property resource and this threatens the future existence of the wetland ecosystem. It is notable that the residents were willing to pay for the conservation of the .swamp. It was however disappointing to 'register that the education level attained was not a significant determinant of the peoples' willingness to pay for the conservation of Ondiri swamp. The study therefore recommends that a community based management plan for the swamp be established to ensure sustainable utilization and effective conservation programmes. A future study on the total economic value of the swamp is also recommended.