| By: |
Ellen Moons (K.U.Leuven-Center for Economic Studies);
Bert Saveyn (K.U.Leuven-Center for Economic Studies);
Stef Proost (K.U.Leuven-Center for Economic Studies);
Martin Hermy (K.U.Leuven-Laboratory for Forest, Nature and Landscape Research) |
| Abstract: |
This paper looks for the optimal location of new forests in a suburban area
under area constraints. The GIS-based methodology takes into account timber,
hunting, carbon sequestration, non-use and recreation benefits and opportunity
costs of converting agricultural land, as well as planting and management
costs of the new forest. The recreation benefits of new forest sites are
estimated using function transfer techniques. We show that the net social
benefit of new forest combinations respecting the area constraints may differ
up to a factor 21. The substitution effect between forests, both new and
existing, turned out to be the dominant factor in the benefit estimation. |
| Keywords: |
Benefit transfer, travel cost analysis, cost-benefit analysis, forest recreation, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) |
| JEL: |
Q23 Q24 Q26 R14 |
| Date: |
2005–01 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ete:etewps:ete0502&r=res |