Non-market economic valuation of myrtle rust management benefits for New Zealand residents

Abstract

The Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit at Lincoln University and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries, has estimated economic values for benefits to the NZ public from myrtle rust control and management. There are no observable market prices available that reveal what NZ residents are willing to pay for avoiding biodiversity impacts associated with myrtle rust. A non-market valuation methodology, choice experiments, was therefore used. This involved an online survey of New Zealand residents in June 2017, using a research panel. The survey process achieved 550 responses with good representation of key population demographics. The choice experiment shows that New Zealanders place substantial value on protecting susceptible plants and trees from myrtle rust impacts.