Abstract
Ethiopia hosts 67% of Africa’s bamboo forests, but its lowland bamboo forests (LBFs) face severe threats from unsustainable harvesting, land conversion, deforestation, and climate change. These challenges deprive society of numerous ecosystem services and benefits. While bamboo’s value is often dominated by direct extraction, its indirect and nonuse benefits are substantial; however, its total economic value (TEV) in Ethiopia remains largely unquantified. Quantifying this TEV is essential for making informed conservation decisions. To address this, the contingent valuation method was applied to estimate the economic value of LBFs in the Abramo District of the Benishangul‐Gumuz region. This paper aims to quantify households’ willingness to pay (WTP) in daily labor for LBF conservation and investigate the determinants of WTP using a double‐bounded dichotomous choice framework. A two‐stage sampling method was used, selecting Kebeles purposefully and households randomly. Data from 199 respondents across four Kebeles were analyzed using a bivariate probit model. The findings revealed an exceptionally full initial willingness among respondents to actively participate in LBF conservation and development initiatives, demonstrating strong community participation. The bivariate probit regression results show a mean WTP of 15.64 and 30.16 man‐days per year for the first and second bids, respectively (
p
< 0.01). Respondents’ sex, age, education, income, family size, marital status, land tenure security, conservation expectations, total livestock units (TLUs), and the assigned bid value were significant factors determining WTP. Consequently, authorities must elevate LBF conservation by integrating these regional demographic and economic factors into future initiatives.