WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR MANGROVE CONSERVATION IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN MOMBASA COUNTY, KENYA

Mangroves in Kenya have been highly degraded due to anthropogenic and natural stressors. However, restoration is expected to help deal with climate change and support livelihood development though provision of goods and services. This study was carried out to analyze households’ willingness to pay for mangrove conservation in the context of climate change in Tudor Creek, Mombasa County. Contingent valuation method was employed to elicit information on WTP from a randomly sampled 414 respondents in four study locations adjacent to Tudor Creek. Semi- structured questionnaires, key informant interviews and focused group discussions were used to collect primary data. The obtained data were subjected into descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analyses using Statistical Package for Social Sciences and R software. Results showed that majority of the respondents (93.7%) of the respondents were aware of mangrove goods and services. Moreover, 68.2% of the respondents were willing to pay between KSH. 50 to 2000 per month for mangrove conservation activities. The mean WTP was estimated to be KSH.14,052 (US$ 140.52) per household per year while the aggregate value of the 1641ha of mangroves in Tudor creek was estimated at 6906.72 US$/ha/year. Regression results revealed that age, participation in conservation activities and climate change awareness were significant factors affecting respondent’s WTP for mangrove conservation. The results suggest that the mangrove forest is of high value and thus need for concerted efforts for conservation and inclusion in national and county development planning. In addition, local awareness of mangrove importance should be publicly enhanced in the context of climate change and urbanization.