Visitors’ Willingness to Pay for Mangrove Conservation in East Kalimantan, Indonesia: A CVM-DBDC Approach Linking Coastal Ecotourism to Climate Change Mitigation

Mangroves in Indonesia play a vital role in climate change (CC) mitigation, coastal protection, and ecotourism. Although the country holds about 21% of the world’s mangrove forests, these ecosystems are experiencing significant degradation. This study examines the visitors' willingness to pay (WTP) in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, to financially support mangrove conservation using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) with a Double-Bounded Dichotomous Choice (DBDC) approach. The findings show that most visitors are willing to contribute financially to conservation efforts. Demographic factors, including age, education, income, and perception factors, such as mangrove benefits, CC threats, and the importance of conservation programs, significantly influence WTP. The findings suggest that ecotourism revenues could serve as a practical and locally supported funding mechanism for mangrove conservation, particularly in the context of Indonesia’s emission reduction targets. This study provides valuable insights for integrating mangrove conservation into national climate policy and promoting blue carbon initiatives under the Paris Agreement.