Economic Valuation of the Sundarbans Reserved Forest of Bangladesh The Zonal Travel Cost Method

The Sundarbans Reserved Forest (SRF) in Bangladesh, home to the world's largest tidal mangrove ecosystem and rich biodiversity, including endangered species, has been economically valued at approximately 197 million Tk. per year using the zonal travel cost method. This study analyzed responses from 300 visitors over seven days, establishing a direct relationship between recreational value and travel costs. The findings suggest that an entrance fee of 50 Tk. per person could generate around 5,000,000 Tk. annually, sufficient for mangrove management and biodiversity conservation efforts. This approach provides a critical tool for balancing ecotourism development with environmental preservation in this UNESCO-recognized site.

BASHAR, R. (2017). Economic Valuation of the Sundarbans Reserved Forest of Bangladesh The Zonal Travel Cost Method. Fifth International Conference on Advances in Social, Economics and Management - SEM 2017, 6–11. https://doi.org/10.15224/978-1-63248-133-7-51