ecological economic contextA major gap in Wilderness economics literature exists regarding how and by how much the economic value of designated Wilderness differs from the economic value of "nature" or "protected areas" or "public lands" in general. This study begins to address this gap. We developed and implemented a model of water-based or water-derived ecosystem services for two case study landscape, both of which include significant wilderness and non-wilderness public lands, as well as private lands. Our spatially explicit approach allows us to compare benefit flows from areas that are designated as wilderness to other parts of the landscape.
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the place
Shining Rock Wilderness in North Carolina
Surface-water runoff models were implemented in two ecosystems--one in the southwest United States (the San Pedro watershed) and the other in the southeast United States (in the area surrounding the Pisgah National Forest). Study areas include a mix of land ownership (public and private) and a diversity of demands for water, including recreation, agriculture, industrial, and domestic water uses. |
Resources
Technical Report with case studies of water-based ecosystem service value of wilderness
See also:
Ecosystem Services in the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest Region
Journal of Forestry article on Economic Values of Wilderness
See also:
Ecosystem Services in the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest Region
Journal of Forestry article on Economic Values of Wilderness
