The Existence Value of Peat Swamp Forest in Peninsular Malaysia

Forests form the dominant natural ecosystem in Malaysia. About 55% of Malaysian land area is forested and endows a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Peat swamp forests constitute a significant component of forest and account for about 75% of the country’s total wetlands. Many peat swamp forests have already been converted to new land uses including palm oil plantations, agriculture and housing. The south-east Pahang peat swamp forest (SEPPSF), located at Pahang state is the largest peat swamp forest cover in Peninsular Malaysia and is believed to be the mainland Asia’s largest and intact peat swamp forest. It harbours unique flora and fauna, provides benefits and services of national interest and supports the livelihood of the aborigines (Orang Asli) communities. Many of the benefits and services from peat swamp forests are unpriced and this can lead to faulty land use decision making. Non market valuation can provide important information on the value of many currently unpriced items and enable decision makers to consider the opportunity costs of proposed land use changes. Total economic value (TEV), which includes use and non-use values, is a complex method to determine the estimated total benefits for a tropical forest. This study reports on a contingent valuation study of existence value (non-use value) of the SEPPSF. The economic value is based on the mean maximum willingness to pay of the households in Kuantan (the capital city of Pahang state) to conserve the forest.