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1. Travel Cost Survey

My name is Erica Baasten. I am a senior, double major in biology and economics at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and am conducting research for an honors thesis. I am asking for your assistance in data collection for this project. Your time and help is greatly appreciated.

My project explores valuation issues for endangered species within economic models. Specifically, I am examining how the travel costs model (TCM) might be applied to measure the value of a rediscovered species, the Ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis). A valuation model that fully captures this additional value may prove to be a helpful tool for all parties interested in protecting and managing potential species habitat.

I am collecting information of visitor travel costs to areas that may be impacted by the potential rediscovery of the Ivory-billed woodpecker. The travel costs will in turn be used as a part of the economic model.

The survey is will likely take between 5-10 minutes of you time. All answers will be confidential and anonymous. All data will only be reported in averages. For example, “35% of respondents reported having little birding knowledge.” Your individual information will not be reported separately. The Background Section obtains data for socioeconomic variables. These variables allow the data results to account for age, income and other differing characteristics of the respondents. Please answer all questions.

Thank for your time and consideration. If you desire additional information, or have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me (elbaaste@coe.edu) or either of the professors supervising my honors thesis, Dr. Richard Eichhorn (eichhorn@coe.edu) and David Hayes (dhayes@coe.edu). Thank you very much.

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* 1. Have you ever been to any of the following: Cache River Refuge, White River Refuge or the towns of Clarendon or Brinkley, Arkansas, referred here after collectively as the Travel Area?

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* 2. Please specify which one(s). (Check all that apply)

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* 3. How many times have you visited the Travel Area?

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* 4. How many of these visits were prompted by the possibility of the ivory-billed woodpecker's existence?

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* 5. If evidence emerges that conclusively demonstrates the extinction of the ivory-billed woodpecker, would you return to the Travel Area?

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* 6. If the answer to the question above is Yes, what interests would bring you back to the Travel Area?

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* 7. On your most recent trip to the Travel Area, did you consider yourself the trip leader or organizer?

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* 8. What is the city, state, and zip code of the initial departure of this trip?

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* 9. Was the potential presence of the ivory-billed woodpecker your primary purpose for visiting the Travel Area?

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* 10. If No, what was your primary reason for visiting (Please check all that apply).

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* 11. On your most recent trip, was visiting the Travel Area:

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* 12. On your most recent trip, how many hours did it take you to get to the Travel Area?

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* 13. How many miles is it, one way, to get to the Travel Area from your place of residence?

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* 14. How many people, including yourself, were there in your group/vehicle sharing the costs?

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* 15. What was the monetary amount of your share of the costs incurred traveling to your destination? (Please include the cost of lodging, if any, for all night spent outside of your destination)

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* 16. What was the monetary amount of your share of the total costs that was incurred while staying at the Travel Area?

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* 17. If your share of the total costs (as given in 15 and 16) to visit your destination was $50.00 or higher per day, would you still visit the Travel Area?

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* 18. If No to the above question, please indicate why.

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