Valoración contingente dicotómica del servicio ecosistémico hídrico en una microcuenca andina del Ecuador

The moorland or paramo is a threatened ecosystem. The indiscriminate advance of the agricultural frontier is producing the loss of ecosystem services, especially water service. This research estimated the willingness to pay (WTP) of the water users corresponding to the Municipality of Riobamba for the conservation of the water service in the Micro-basin of the Chimborazo River (MCRCH). Four hundred and six surveys were applied by means of the double limit dichotomous contingent valuation method, using a maximum likelihood model in the Stata software. Four models were developed: simple limit, simple limit with other explanatory variables, double limit, and double limit with other explanatory variables, the latter being statistically more significant. As a result, it was determined that the WTP is USD 0.84 per month to conserve the water service of the MCRCH, value that increases if the home ownership variable is included in USD 0.04. The problem of climate change increases in USD 0.24, while the variable level of education decreases the WTP by USD 0.04.