Author:

Keywords:

Social Sciences, Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Economics, Forestry, Business & Economics, benefit transfer, cost-benefit analysis, forest recreation, geographical information system (GIS), travel cost analysis, GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION-SYSTEMS, BENEFIT TRANSFER, DEMAND, RECREATION, COSTS, 0705 Forestry Sciences, 1402 Applied Economics, 1499 Other Economics, 3007 Forestry sciences, 3801 Applied economics, 3899 Other economics

Abstract:

This paper looks at the optimal location of new forests in a suburban region under area constraints. The methodology takes into account use benefits, non-use benefits (both bequest and existence values), opportunity costs of converting agricultural land, as well as planting and management costs of the new forest. The recreational benefits of new forest sites are estimated using function transfer techniques. We show that the net social benefit of the total afforestation project varies up to a factor 6. The recreational value of a site varies considerably with the available substitutes. © 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.