Conservation versus conversion des zones humides : une analyse comparative appliquée à l'estuaire de la Seine

The aim of this paper is to contribute to the analysis of the trade-off between conservation of the wetlands of the Seine estuary (France) and their conversion to industrial use. We combine the results of a contingent valuation survey conducted in 2005 in the Seine Estuary with an evaluation of the benefits generated by a conversion of the wetlands to industrial use. Finally, we find the value of wetlands services and the benefits of the past conversion of wetlands to industrial use to be in a ratio of 1 to 270 or 1 to 90.