Following the principle of long-term sutainability (Report of the World Commission on Environment and Develop-ment WCED 1987) und the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the study aims to contribute to the protection of natural resources including biodiversity. One focus of the preliminary study is to analyse perception and values of lay persons towards ecological insurance effects of biodiversity, the economic valuation of repective ecosystem services and the analysis of determinants influencing the valuation. Methods of empirical social research are being used to realize the study. Central research questions are:
Which meaning or function does biological diversity have from a lay persons perspective? Are respondents able to identify ecological insurance services and to value them? Which information are useful for the development of a Choice Experiment questionnaire?