An Economic Evaluation of the Conservation of the Cotton-TopTamarin Monkey Using the Contingent Valuation Method

Abstract

The Cotton-Top Tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) is a critically endangered primate that only exists between the Urabá Antioqueño región and the Atlantico Department of Colombia, on the Caribbean Coast. The primary threat to the Cotton-Top Tamarin is the reduction of its habitat due to constant transformation of soil uses. This paper examines the public’s willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to work (WTW) for the conservation of the Cotton-Top Tamarin using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). The data was collected through personal interviews. Our findings suggest that the mean willingness to pay is COP$3772 cop (about USD$2) and the mean willingness to work is four days. Our results also show that participants of Proyecto Tití activities have a higher willingness to pay and work for the conservation of the Cotton-Top Tamarin than non-participants.