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<p>Urban wetlands deliver vital ecosystem services, including recreational opportunities, yet their contributions often remain undervalued in economic and land-use planning. This study estimates the recreational value of Beddagana Wetland Park in Sri Lanka, using an enhanced Travel Cost Method (TCM) to support sustainable urban land use and wetland conservation, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15, Life on Land. A structured on-site survey of 500 visitors gathered data on travel costs, visitation frequency, and perceptions of environmental quality and accessibility. Three complementary demand models; Zero-Inflated Poisson (ZIP), Hurdle Negative Binomial (HNB), and Latent Class Poisson Model (LCPM) were employed to account for excess zero visitation, overdispersion in trip counts, and preference heterogeneity among visitors. The models consistently indicate that travel cost (as a proxy for price) has a significant negative impact on visit frequency, while perceived environmental quality and park accessibility positively influence demand. The inclusion of a latent class model revealed two distinct visitor segments (infrequent vs. frequent users) with differing sensitivities to cost and site attributes. Consumer surplus estimates range around a few dollars (approximately LKR 1,000–1,500) per visit, translating into substantial annual recreational value in aggregate. These findings emphasize the importance of preserving ecological integrity, enhancing accessibility, and minimizing cost barriers to optimize public benefits. The study provides actionable insights for policymakers by demonstrating urban wetlands’ economic and recreational significance, reinforcing the need for integrated conservation and urban planning strategies.</p>

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Valuing urban wetlands for sustainable land use: recreational services and economic insights from a travel cost framework

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月26日

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  • Thelikada Palliyage Shashika Ranganie Guruge,
  • Prabath Chaminda Abeysiriwardana,
  • Iruviman Virajith Kuruppu,
  • Aluthgedara Lahiru Janitha Bandara

摘要

Urban wetlands deliver vital ecosystem services, including recreational opportunities, yet their contributions often remain undervalued in economic and land-use planning. This study estimates the recreational value of Beddagana Wetland Park in Sri Lanka, using an enhanced Travel Cost Method (TCM) to support sustainable urban land use and wetland conservation, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15, Life on Land. A structured on-site survey of 500 visitors gathered data on travel costs, visitation frequency, and perceptions of environmental quality and accessibility. Three complementary demand models; Zero-Inflated Poisson (ZIP), Hurdle Negative Binomial (HNB), and Latent Class Poisson Model (LCPM) were employed to account for excess zero visitation, overdispersion in trip counts, and preference heterogeneity among visitors. The models consistently indicate that travel cost (as a proxy for price) has a significant negative impact on visit frequency, while perceived environmental quality and park accessibility positively influence demand. The inclusion of a latent class model revealed two distinct visitor segments (infrequent vs. frequent users) with differing sensitivities to cost and site attributes. Consumer surplus estimates range around a few dollars (approximately LKR 1,000–1,500) per visit, translating into substantial annual recreational value in aggregate. These findings emphasize the importance of preserving ecological integrity, enhancing accessibility, and minimizing cost barriers to optimize public benefits. The study provides actionable insights for policymakers by demonstrating urban wetlands’ economic and recreational significance, reinforcing the need for integrated conservation and urban planning strategies.