Avaliação Económica dos Bens Ambientais em Portugal

Abstract

This paper reviews the empirical research of the non-market environmental valuation methodologies in Portugal and identifies opportunities for linking results to policy. Four research questions are addressed: what has been done; what common features can be observed; what do we know about the validity of the values; and which trends have been found in the recent research. We conclude that environmental valuation in Portugal has a noticeable regional application, e.g., natural parks and traditional landscapes. Contingent valuation is the leading method. Price, income and the use of the re- source for recreational purposes are among the most important explanatory variables. The results confirm the theoretical validity of the methods and their potential for local/regional policy purposes.