Non-market values pose a challenge in decision making. In a contribution to the issue, the study assesses the potential positive impact on residents’ wellbeing of improving the ecological status of water bodies making up the Saarijärvi watercourse in Central Finland, a region with numerous Natura areas. The benefits provided by the aquatic environment and the factors affecting them were assessed using the contingent valuation method (CVM). A split-sample design made it possible to analyse expressed uncertainty with two payment vehicles: in one, the question of uncertainty was included in the willingness-to-pay (WTP) questions (multiple bounded discrete choice, MBDC); in the other, it was queried separately after the payment card (PC) question. Where respondents saw added value in Natura 2000 sites and received new information on water management, they experienced increased wellbeing from improved water quality. Perceived importance of sustainable hydropower and water regulation also figured in a desire to improve the ecological status of waters in the region. The results show that there is a noticeable positive WTP among residents (N = 473) for improved water status and that estimated WTP differs according to uncertainty: mean WTP every year per individual fell in the range EUR 29.70 to EUR 75.50. Improvement of water status and protection of Natura 2000 sites were found to be mutually reinforcing goals. Higher net social benefits could be realized if implementation of the applicable directives were more closely coupled to regional planning.

非市场价值对决策构成挑战。作为对该问题的贡献，该研究评估了改善构成芬兰中部 Saarijärvi 河道的水体生态状况对居民福祉的潜在积极影响，该地区拥有众多自然区。使用条件估值法 (CVM) 评估了水生环境提供的效益及其影响因素。拆分样本设计使分析两种支付工具表达的不确定性成为可能：一种，不确定性问题包含在支付意愿 (WTP) 问题中（多有界离散选择，MBDC）；另一种是在支付卡（PC）问题后单独查询。受访者在 Natura 2000 站点中看到了附加值并获得了有关水管理的新信息，他们的生活质量因水质改善而增加。意识到可持续水电和水管理的重要性也体现在改善该地区水域生态状况的愿望中。结果表明，居民 (N = 473) 对改善水状况的支付意愿明显为正，并且估计支付意愿因不确定性而异：每个人每年的平均支付意愿下降在 29.70 欧元到 75.50 欧元之间。发现改善水状况和保护 Natura 2000 站点是相辅相成的目标。如果适用指令的实施与区域规划更紧密地结合，则可以实现更高的净社会效益。意识到可持续水电和水管理的重要性也体现在改善该地区水域生态状况的愿望中。结果表明，居民 (N = 473) 对改善水状况的支付意愿明显为正，并且估计支付意愿因不确定性而异：每个人每年的平均支付意愿下降在 29.70 欧元到 75.50 欧元之间。发现改善水状况和保护 Natura 2000 站点是相辅相成的目标。如果适用指令的实施与区域规划更紧密地结合，则可以实现更高的净社会效益。意识到可持续水电和水管理的重要性也体现在改善该地区水域生态状况的愿望中。结果表明，居民 (N = 473) 对改善水状况的支付意愿明显为正，并且估计支付意愿因不确定性而异：每个人每年的平均支付意愿下降在 29.70 欧元到 75.50 欧元之间。发现改善水状况和保护 Natura 2000 站点是相辅相成的目标。如果适用指令的实施与区域规划更紧密地结合，则可以实现更高的净社会效益。结果表明，居民 (N = 473) 对改善水状况的支付意愿明显为正，并且估计支付意愿因不确定性而异：每个人每年的平均支付意愿下降在 29.70 欧元到 75.50 欧元之间。发现改善水状况和保护 Natura 2000 站点是相辅相成的目标。如果适用指令的实施与区域规划更紧密地结合，则可以实现更高的净社会效益。结果表明，居民 (N = 473) 对改善水状况的支付意愿明显为正，并且估计支付意愿因不确定性而异：每个人每年的平均支付意愿下降在 29.70 欧元到 75.50 欧元之间。发现改善水状况和保护 Natura 2000 站点是相辅相成的目标。如果适用指令的实施与区域规划更紧密地结合，则可以实现更高的净社会效益。