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Estimating the Net Economic Value of National Forest Recreation: An Application of the National Visitor Use Monitoring Database

Informally Refereed

Abstract

The USDA Forest Service (FS) manages 193 million acres of public land in the United States. These public resources include vast quantities of natural resources including timber, wildlife, watersheds, air sheds, and ecosystems. The Forest Service was established in 1905, and the FS has been directed by Congress to manage the National Forests and Grasslands for the benefit of the American people. Initially, this guiding principle was to maximize the sustainable yield of timber products from forest lands. Beginning in the 1960’s, the FS was directed to manage these lands for multiple uses and benefits, as well as for the sustained yield of renewable resources such as water, forage, wildlife, wood, and recreation.

Citation

Bowker, J.M.; Starbuck, C.M.; English, D.B.K.; Bergstrom, J.C.; Rosenburger, R.S.; McCollum, D.C. 2009. Estimating the Net Economic Value of National Forest Recreation: An Application of the National Visitor Use Monitoring Database. Faculty Series Working Paper, FS 09-02, September 2009; The University of Georgia, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Athens, GA 30602 http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/handle/59603
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/37369