Abstract

This research determines the economic value of mangroves in Bajo Yuna National Park (MBY), a protected area located west of the Bay of Samaná, Dominican Republic, on the basis of their use and willingness to pay (WTP) to preserve them. Seven (7) field trips were made between October 2008 and February 2010 to the study area to conduct interviews, polls and capture fisheries’ landing surveys, determine fishery statistics and conduct cost-benefit analysis. The results show that mangroves still maintain the attributes that ensure their ecological integrity and that fishing has the highest social incidence in the study area. Also fishing reports annually around US$340,281.00 and an income per fisher of US$268.00. Moreover, the WTP was determined at US$6.41 for each fisherman that is equivalent to US$7,974.35 for the existing fishing village population of 1,244 fishermen. Thus this represents a substantial financial resource for the efficient manage-ment of this protected area. Additionally, the results showed that their WTP was strongly influenced by the variables of level of organizational groups, family, housing tenure, knowledge and dependence on the ecosystem. An integrated response from community organizations and government was recommended to transcend the objective of merely protecting the mangroves, as the livelihood of these fishermen depends directly on this ecosystem. Finally, the results of this research and Articles 43 and 45 of Law 307/04 support a proposal aimed to strengthen the fishing unit of Sanchez as a management tool to be implemented by those institutions directly involved.

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