VALUING THE IMPACTS OF FOREST-FIRES ON BACKCOUNTRY FOREST RECREATION

A discrete choice travel cost model was developed for backcountry fore st recreation using 2 yr of backcountry canoe registrations from Nopim ing Park, Manitoba. A statistically significant variable explaining ch oice of route was the amount of forest along the route that was burned in the last 10 yr; virtually all of which occurred in two particularl y severe fires during 1983. The current economic welfare loss from the se fires was estimated using a discrete choice travel cost model combi ned with a count model of trip demand. Since the forest grows back fol lowing fi re, these losses will eventually decrease to zero. A linear intertemporal damage function for one of the fires is estimated, and t he present value of damages under alternative discount rate assumption s is presented.