Recreation values of boreal forest stand types and landscapes resulting from different silvicultural systems: An economic analysis

In this study, data from a contingent valuation survey was used to estimate the recreation value, in economic terms, of Various stand types within bor eal forest landscapes, given by four different silvicultural systems. In a model, using recreation value functions and a maximum likelihood procedure, recreation value contributions in monetary terms were estimated for each s tand type, or phase of the rotation period. Further, the shares of the diff erent stand types were modified in the estimated value functions to analyse the potentials for increasing the recreation value of the forest landscape s. The shelterwood system yielded the forest landscape with the highest rec reation value and the clearcutting system the lowest, both for equal and mo dified stand type shares. The results indicate that the choice of silvicult ural strategy is very important in order to produce timber and forest recre ation environments in an economically efficient way. (C) 2000 Academic Pres s.