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Modeling Willingness to Pay for Freshwater Ecosystem Services in the Central Andes

Prado Velasco, Pablo Edmundo LU orcid ; Rejas, Danny ; Oporto, Carla Gabriela ; Jönsson, Karin LU orcid ; Decsi, Bence and Persson, Kenneth M LU (2026) 6th ESP Europe Conference
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems in the central Andes provide critical ecosystem services (ES), including water purification, baseflow regulation, groundwater recharge, and cultural and recreational benefits. However, these high-mountain systems are increasingly threatened by changing land use, climate variability, and accelerating pressure on water resources. Understanding local willingness to pay for conservation and improved water quality is essential for designing effective management and payment schemes for ecosystem services. This study integrates hydrological modeling, remote sensing, and socio-economic analysis to evaluate the determinants of WTP for freshwater ES in Andean headwaters. Biophysical variables were derived from the InVEST... (More)
Freshwater ecosystems in the central Andes provide critical ecosystem services (ES), including water purification, baseflow regulation, groundwater recharge, and cultural and recreational benefits. However, these high-mountain systems are increasingly threatened by changing land use, climate variability, and accelerating pressure on water resources. Understanding local willingness to pay for conservation and improved water quality is essential for designing effective management and payment schemes for ecosystem services. This study integrates hydrological modeling, remote sensing, and socio-economic analysis to evaluate the determinants of WTP for freshwater ES in Andean headwaters. Biophysical variables were derived from the InVEST Seasonal Water Yield model, producing spatially explicit indicators of precipitation, baseflow, quickflow, curve number, local and upslope recharge, and recharge contribution. These hydrological indicators were linked with in situ water quality measurements and landscape variables. Survey data collected from local and downstream population recorded WTP for water conservation initiatives along with socio-demographic variables such as education level and age groups. Logistic regression, generalized linear models (GLM), and machine-learning classifiers (Random Forest and Extreme Boost Gradient) were applied to identify the socio-environmental predictors of WTP. Results indicate that both socio-economic characteristics and spatial hydrological conditions significantly shape WTP. Education levels, access to sewage and population density exhibited higher influence in contributing financially, while hydrological stressors, such as distance to water (streams, lakes, wetlands, etc), elevation, runoff potential (CN) and quickflow, were associated with greater support for conservation efforts. The integration of hydrological modeling with social perception valuation provides a robust framework for understanding how environmental conditions influence public support for freshwater ES, offering evidence-based guidance for watershed restoration programs, payment schemes and land planning in the central Andes. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Ecosystem services, Central Andes, Willingness to pay, Freshwater
pages
1 pages
conference name
6th ESP Europe Conference
conference location
Prague, Czech Republic
conference dates
2026-05-18 - 2026-05-22
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
57050b1e-653f-4463-aade-45e62ec3ea3b
date added to LUP
2026-05-27 23:32:34
date last changed
2026-06-01 12:35:37
@misc{57050b1e-653f-4463-aade-45e62ec3ea3b,
  abstract     = {{Freshwater ecosystems in the central Andes provide critical ecosystem services (ES), including water purification, baseflow regulation, groundwater recharge, and cultural and recreational benefits. However, these high-mountain systems are increasingly threatened by changing land use, climate variability, and accelerating pressure on water resources. Understanding local willingness to pay for conservation and improved water quality is essential for designing effective management and payment schemes for ecosystem services. This study integrates hydrological modeling, remote sensing, and socio-economic analysis to evaluate the determinants of WTP for freshwater ES in Andean headwaters. Biophysical variables were derived from the InVEST Seasonal Water Yield model, producing spatially explicit indicators of precipitation, baseflow, quickflow, curve number, local and upslope recharge, and recharge contribution. These hydrological indicators were linked with in situ water quality measurements and landscape variables. Survey data collected from local and downstream population recorded WTP for water conservation initiatives along with socio-demographic variables such as education level and age groups. Logistic regression, generalized linear models (GLM), and machine-learning classifiers (Random Forest and Extreme Boost Gradient) were applied to identify the socio-environmental predictors of WTP. Results indicate that both socio-economic characteristics and spatial hydrological conditions significantly shape WTP. Education levels, access to sewage and population density exhibited higher influence in contributing financially, while hydrological stressors, such as distance to water (streams, lakes, wetlands, etc), elevation, runoff potential (CN) and quickflow, were associated with greater support for conservation efforts. The integration of hydrological modeling with social perception valuation provides a robust framework for understanding how environmental conditions influence public support for freshwater ES, offering evidence-based guidance for watershed restoration programs, payment schemes and land planning in the central Andes.}},
  author       = {{Prado Velasco, Pablo Edmundo and Rejas, Danny and Oporto, Carla Gabriela and Jönsson, Karin and Decsi, Bence and Persson, Kenneth M}},
  keywords     = {{Ecosystem services; Central Andes; Willingness to pay; Freshwater}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  title        = {{Modeling Willingness to Pay for Freshwater Ecosystem Services in the Central Andes}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}