Estudio de preferencias por los elementos agrarios del paisaje mediante los métodos de Análisis Conjunto y Valoración Contingente

Among the externalities produced by agrarian activities one must consider its contribution to the shaping of the landscape, an aesthetic externality value of the agrosystems. Recognizing and appraising this contribution is becoming more and more important every day. In this study a Conjoint Analysis and Contingent Valuation methods has been used to estimate, first the relative importance of the agrarian component level in the utility function achieved from enjoying landscapes, and secondly the Willingness To Pay of surveyed for these landscapes existing in the area of The Alpujarras (Granada-Spain). Data has been obtained by a questionnaire performed to a sample of a potential visitor of the area, using three main features of landscape, as follows: Vegetation layer, level of building, and mountain inclines, each of them with different levels. Subsequently, a multiple regression model has been fitted to identify the relationship between the Willingness to Pay for landscapes and its features and the socio-cultural traits of the individuals. According to results concerning both the preferences and the Willingness To Pay of visitors for landscapes, some conclusions have finally been drawn, allowing to derive strategies to maintain the most valued landscape in the area and to make use of it for the sustainable development of the region