Abstract

Discrete Choice Experiments (DCE) are the mostly used method for the economic valuation of ecosystem services of landscapes. Meanwhile, non-material services have attained little attention within DCE.  Within the scope of a Case Study in Cevennes National Park (France), we propose an integrative qualitative approach: Firstly, participants state their preferences for landscape features and amenities in a DCE. In a second stage, these attributes are associated with different Ecosystem Services predetermined in Focus Groups and which participants considered explicitly or implicitly during their choices. Furthermore, we use a difference in differences approach to determine whether proximity and deliberations facilitate the recognition of non-material services within valuation.

Practical information