Abstract
Wetland ecosystems have numerous sustainable functions and services-these ecosystems are also at the greatest risk of being converted to other competitive land uses, especially when their locations are urban. The wetlands located on the eastern fringes of the city of Kolkata are faced with critical questions of development versus conservation, and evidently, there is an urgent need to prioritise management options. This paper is based on the assumption that long-term benefits of wetland conservation have not been sufficiently perceived. The study first attempts to analyse peoples preferences regarding conservation by assessing stakeholders' willingness to pay and then proceeds to evaluate the determinants of their preferences. This approach helps ascertain community preparedness and awareness about a critical resource like wetlands. It concludes that preferences are associated with socioeconomic as well as environmental parameters, while a strategy to educate people regarding the role of wetlands must come to fore with immediate effect.
