Economic assessment of ecosystem services in the Cocos Marine Conservation Area (ACMC) and in adjacent waters

Objective of the project

Identify, classify, and quantify the generation of income in activities that take place in the Cocos Marine Conservation Area (ACMC) and its adjacent waters.

Several extractive and non-extractive activities (e.g., tourism) around the ACMC generate income to the country. In this sector of the Costa Rican Pacific, a series of organizations, individuals, and companies operate and generate interactions with other stakeholders and contribute with the economy at the local level (e.g., Puntarenas), as well as nationally and internationally. This research aims to quantify these data in the different scopes. Additionally, the willingness to pay (WTP) of tourists visiting the ACMC to conserve the environment is assessed through contingent valuation.