Valuing cultural benefits from the restoration of a mined-out forest in Ghana: a contingent valuation approach

Cultura l ecosystem services from forests are important sources of benefits, providing psychological and subjective needs that are crucial for societal well-being. Yet, cultural heritage and spiritual benefits from forests have been relatively understudied. This study examined people’s willingness to pay (WTP) for cultural heritage and spiritual benefit from the restoration of the Bonsa River Forest Reserve (BRFR). Primary data were collected from 611 respondents using a contingent valuation survey and were analysed using Logit, ordered probit and interval regression. Age, in come, native, religion, bequest value, gender, household size, education and employment status were significant in predicting WTP for cultural benefits of the BRFR. The estimated mean WTP was 48 Ghana cedis ($6.15). Respondents’ preferences for the cultural ecosystem services of the BRFR demonstrate their likeliness to support a future initiative for restoring the degraded forest reserve. It is recommended that cultural services should be prioritised in forest management decision-making policies.