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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2005.06.010 Byline: I.J. Bateman (a)(b), M.A. Cole (c), S. Georgiou (a)(b), D.J. Hadley (b) Abstract: This paper contrasts applications of both the contingent valuation (CV) and contingent ranking (CR) methods as applied to a common issue, the valuation of improvements to the water quality of an urban river (the River Tame, running through the city of Birmingham, UK). Building upon earlier experimental work, the CV design used ensures that respondents are fully aware of all impending valuation tasks prior to undertaking any one of those tasks. Such an approach is directly comparable to the CR design for which full awareness of all options is a pre-requisite. Findings indicate that the CV responses exhibit strong internal consistency with expected relationships observed between values and theoretically expected parameters. External comparisons show that CR valuations are substantially larger than those elicited through CV (with protest votes excluded), and that the response rate for the CR survey is significantly higher than that for the CV survey. Author Affiliation: (a) Programme on Environmental Decision Making (PEDM), School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK (b) Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment (CSERGE), School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK (c) Department of Economics, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK Article History: Received 16 September 2003; Accepted 22 June 2005

A survey that employed the contingent valuation technique was conducted to determine individuals' willingness to pay for reductions of perceived health risks from bathing water. The quality of bathing waters at two beaches in East Anglia, UK, were evaluated based on the standard of the European Community Bathing Water Quality Directive. The Lowestoft beach met the standard while the Great Yarmouth beach failed. The results are discussed.

Budget-constraint, temporal and question-ordering effects were examined in a contingent valuation study conducted for an unpriced woodland recreation. Four tests were also designed to investigate the interaction among these effects. Results reveal budget-constraint effects in three of the four tests, whereas temporal effects were difficult to distinguish from implicit payment vehicle effects. On the other hand, significant differences were noted in two of the four tests of ordering effects.

A new study investigates the changes in carbon storage generated by growing trees on previously unplanted land. Emissions from timber products and forest soils in the whole of Wales are modelled.

As tourists are sensitive to weather conditions and changes to the environments they visit, it is likely that climate change will affect coastal recreation in the future. To understand these impacts, it is first important to quantify how visitor numbers are associated with beach characteristics and weather patterns. Using the East Anglian coastline, UK, as a case study, information on the spatial distribution of visitors recorded from aircraft flights is combined with beach characteristic data in a Geographical Information System. In addition, surveys are undertaken at two beaches to assess temporal variations in visitation. The study finds a diverse range of characteristics are associated with visitor numbers. These findings are evaluated alongside the anticipated effects of climate change and management policies. Although it is predicted that warmer weather will increase visitor numbers overall, sea-level rise may reduce numbers at wide sandy beaches, which are currently most preferred by tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores public perceptions of, and attitudes toward, possible health risks from polluted coastal bathing waters in the United Kingdom. Cultural theory is applied in the present analysis, using a mixed methodology of quantitative analysis from interviews and qualitative interpretation of focus group discussions to provide insights into how different cultural solidarities view a number of issues. These include risks to health; attitudes toward regulation; public consultation and information provision; and trust, blame, and accountability applied to different stakeholders in the bathing-water-quality debate. The results show that individuals' standpoints can be represented on a number of dimensions, consistent with cultural theory, including perceptions of power and authority, beliefs in the efficacy of collective action, and acceptance or rejection of incremental change as opposed to radical solutions. The discussion focuses both on methodological and substantive issues related to the use of cultural theory as a research tool, and on policy recommendations arising from this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates individuals' stated willingness to pay (WTP) to reduce perceived risks of illness from the quality of bathing water at two beaches in East Anglia, United Kingdom. Identification of the two beaches; Failure of one beach to meet the European Community (EC) Bathing Water Quality Directive standard; Information on a conceptual model classifying the valuation of individual preferences.

Provides information on a study which discussed the application of contingent valuation and travel-cost methods on data collected on interviews of visitors to Cley Marshes nature reserve in North Folk, England. Arguments in favor of managed retreat; Discussion of nature restoration and development; Visitor survey.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue including one by Kirk Hamilton and Giovanni Ruta on social and economic resources in environmental accounting, another on the changes in the theory and practice of environmental accounting.