The impact of use and non-use values on willingness to pay for the Norwegian wolf population

Abstract

Which motivations determine people´s attitude towards the Norwegian wolf population? The current management goal for the Norwegian wolf population is 3 annual breedings within a geographically specified zone. This paper assesses the attitudes of Hunters and other outdoors users towards this management policy, as well as other potential scenarios. We do this using a willingness to pay survey. We argue that positive attitudes toward the wolf is mainly related to non- use values, while personal experience will change an individuals attitude towards becoming negative. We also review relevant literature and relate our findings to several other studies covering the same subject.