Determination of non-market values to inform conservation strategies for the threatened Alistana-Sanabresa cattle breed

Abstract Text: Livestock breed-related public good functions are often used to justify support for endangered breed conservation although little is known about such non-market values. This paper illustrates how stated preference techniques can be used to improve understanding of the relative importance of such values and to inform conservation strategies by the exploration total economic value of the Spanish Alistana-Sanabresa (AS) cattle breed. Overall, the findings reveal that the AS breed had significant non-market values associated with it, hence justifying public support, and that the value that respondents placed on each specific public function varied significantly. Functions related with indirect use cultural and existence values were much more highly valued than landscape maintenance values. Insofar as the breed conservation strategies with the highest potential to maximise societal welfare would be those that secure the breed-related functions that people value most, appropriate in situ conservation interventions may be identified accordingly.

Keywords: Choice modelling, TEV