Abstract We analyze 58 stated-preference studies published between 2008 and 2023, comprising 417 estimates of willingness-to-pay (WTP) for ecosystem services provided by agricultural landscapes across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North and South America. The analysis examines how landscape characteristics, ecosystem service attributes, valuation methods, sampled populations, and other study characteristics influence WTP. Results reveal substantial heterogeneity in preferences across regions. WTP is significantly higher when valuation scenarios are framed as avoiding environmental degradation or promoting conservation, compared to scenarios describing further improvements. In addition, WTP is scope-sensitive, with larger perceived landscape changes associated with higher WTP. In weighted specifications, additional variables show systematic patterns, pointing to a potential role of payment vehicle, sample composition, number and type of Ecosystem services (ES) valued and, landscape scarcity in explaining WTP variation.
Aweke et al. (Mon,) studied this question.