Wildland economics: theory and practice

Abstract

Since passage of the Wilderness Act, economists have derived the total economic valuation framework for estimating wildland benefits. Over the same time period, policies adopted by public land management agencies have been slow to internalize wilderness economics into management decisions. The lack of spatial resolution and modeler bias associated with the FORPLAN model, combined with asymmetrical budget shortfalls, procedural errors and the overestimation of stumpage prices have contributed to a commodity bias in public land allocation decisions. This bias has spurred some economists to advocate privatization of public land management. Market forces cannot, however, be relied upon to adequately supply wilderness resources, and non-market alternatives are preferable for addressing the shortcomings identified.

Parent Publication

• Wilderness science in a time of change conference-Volume 2: Wilderness within the context of larger systems; 1999 May 23-27; Missoula, MT

Citation

Morton, Pete. 2000. Wildland economics: theory and practice. In: McCool, Stephen F.; Cole, David N.; Borrie, William T.; O’Loughlin, Jennifer, comps. 2000. Wilderness science in a time of change conference—Volume 2: Wilderness within the context of larger systems; 1999 May 23–27; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-15-VOL-2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 238-250