Abstract:The Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) is a direct interview approach that can be used to provide acceptable measures of the economic value of recreation opportunities as well as preservation of natural resources. This latter use is unique to contingent valuation. Contingent valuation methods use simulated (hypothetical) markets to identify values similar to actual markets. The experience gained in US and Europe for about three decades shows that CV is a promising technique which could potentially help publi...