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Browse subject: forest recreation
Number of records: 39

Camping and Campground Reservation Site
About this Resource: This link connects to ReserveUSA.com, a one-stop reservation service for camping and camground facilities, offered on properties managed by various Federal Agencies (including the USDA Forest Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service and the Bureau of Reclamation). This on-line registration applies to 45,000 facilities in 1,700 locations.

National Park Foundation
About this Resource: Chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation seeks to raise private support for, and an enjoyment of, U.S. National Parks. This website offers details about the foundation and its' activities; it includes: park profiles; furnishes planning information for travelers; is a source of ideas for activities designed for children (including the Junior Ranger Programs) and discusses the volunteers-in-parks program. This link to the Foundations Home Page features news items.

Estimating a Family Forest Landowner's Likelihood of Posting against Trespass.
About this Resource: Hunters and other recreators face challenges to gain access to private forestland in the United States because of an increasing number of landowners posting their land. A landowners' decision to post their land is influenced by a variety of factors, including landowner characteristics, hunter behavior, and parcel attributes. We used a logit model to help understand why family forest landowners in Minnesota post their land against public trespass. Factors that increased the likelihood of posting included younger owners, a perception that allowing access would interfere with one's own hunting, a perception that allowing access would result in damage to one's property, hunting as the primary reason for forestland ownership, larger parcel size, having a management plan, higher property values, and a high percentage of surrounding area open to public hunting. Implications of increased posting by family forest owners on hunting access and wildlife management are discussed.

Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
About this Resource: The site provides information about the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry. There is information about recreation, forest health, private forest landowners, forest fire protection, education and information, and state forest management. Quick links include: common trees of Pennsylvania; Hemlock Woolly Adelgid; search and rescue; Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program; state forest regulations; Pennsylvania urban and Community Forestry Council; research guidelines, and leased forest campsites. There is also a state forest index and information about outdoor activities.

Planning forest recreation in natural protected areas of southern Durango, Mexico
About this Resource: This research investigated the usefulness of the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) for managing forest recreation in two natural protected areas of southern Durango, Mexico. We used onsite interviews to document the recreation activities visitors participated in, the characteristics of their referred recreation sites, and socio-demographic information. A cluster analysis identified visitor groups based on the characteristics of preferred recreation sites and the resulting clusters were compared to the recreation activities and socio-demographic data to create a typology of visitors. We used the ROS framework to identify three classes in each natural protected area including (1) zones with easy access and basic facilities (ROS rural class), (2) natural-appearing zones with few facilities (ROS roaded class), and (3) reserve zones (ROS semiprimitive non-motorized or primitive class). Overall, the ROS framework appears to fit appropriately in these two case studies and could be used for recreation planning purposes in other forest areas of the country.

Missoula Technology & Development Center | USDA-FS
About this Resource: A link to information on the Missoula Technology & Development Center (MTDC), from a USDA server with the Forest Service. The Missoula Technology & Development Center works with federal and state agencies, universities, private corporate agencies and research groups. MTDC assists these institutions so that resource managers can improve public lands. An index from this page accesses web resources devoted to: research and development; forest health production; recreation; environmental engineering; reforestation; remote sensing; watershed management. The website points to: historical photographs and video streaming as well as key publications.

Forest History Society, Environmental History Bibliography
About this Resource: The Environmental History Bibliography contains over 35,000 annotated citations to books, articles, and dissertations dealing with the utilization, management, and appreciation of forest-related resources. The Bibliography contains citations published from 1633 to the present and is updated quarterly.

Trends Among Family Forest Owners in Alabama, 1994-2004
About this Resource: There are an estimated 432,000 family forest owners in Alabama and they control 67% of the State's forestland. About two-thirds owned less than 10 ac. and about 88% of the family forest owners have holdings of less than 50 ac; collectively, this group of owners with 1-49 ac of forestland own 15% of Alabama's family forestland. The corollary to this finding is that a majority (85%) of the state's family forestland is owned by the minority (12%) of owners who own 50 ac or more. Between 1994 and 2004, the amount of forestland owned by family forest owners with small (less than 10 ac) and large (more than 500 ac) forest holdings increased, while the total area of forestland owned by people with intermediate-size holdings, in general, decreased. Compared with 10 years ago, the number of family forest owners 45-54 years old is higher but they tend to own smaller parcels of forestland. During the same period, the number of owners 65 years or older decreased, but, on average, the size of their holdings increased. Recreation and investments have become more important objectives of ownership, whereas timber production as a primary ownership objective decreases. The probability of an owner having harvested trees, having a management plan, or having sought forest management advice increased as the size of the forest holding increased.

Southern Research Station | USDA Forest Service
About this Resource: The Southern Research Station creates the science and technology needed to sustain and enhance forest ecosystems in southern regions of the U.S. This link, which connects to the Research Station's homepage is a source for identifying publications; work units; employees and background on the Station. The Homepage features: current highlights; scientists' and their research; new additions; the Stations' strategic framework and the ten most recent publications added to the site. A section for "additional information" points to glossaries; educational products and photo galleries. Additional web features include a publications electronic mailing list, employment information, online videos and relevant external links.

Ohio Division of Forestry
About this Resource: The site provides links to program areas, seedling sales, landowner assistance, and forest industries. There is information about urban forestry, education, forest health, and fire protection. There are also links to forestry news, related publications, licenses and reservations, and the ODNR homepage.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection: Division of Parks and Forestry
About this Resource: The NJDEP Division of Parks and Forestry website provides links to information about New Jersey's historic sites and villages, that NJ State Park Service, the State Forestry Service, and the NJ Forest Fire Service. They offer information about natural lands management, historic preservation, education, and the corporate partners program. There is a park directory where parks can be searched by location or activity, as well as a calendar of events and access to forestry related publications.

Fire and Recreational Values in Fire-Prone Forests: Exploring an Intertemporal Amenity Function Using Pooled RP-SP Data
About this Resource: An important consideration in managing fire-prone forests is the intertemporal impacts of forest fires. This analysis examines these impacts in a forest recreation setting by fitting a combined stated and revealed data set to explicitly model the effects of forest regrowth following a fire on recreation economic values. The results are particularly useful as they provide clear measures of the time path of recovery of forest amenity values following a fire.

National Forest Recreation- USDA Forest Service
About this Resource: This site is for the USDA's Forest Service Recreational Activities. The site allows users to find a forest or grassland by searching on a map. The site also provides facts, maps and brochures, a store, and travel advisories. There is information about passes and permits and reservations as well.

Forest Service Recreation
About this Resource: This Forest Service site provides recreation information for travellers. Here users can search for a forest or grassland, find facts, order maps and brochures, find information on outdoor safety, passes and permits, reservations, and view travel advisories.

Ohio Division of Forestry
About this Resource: The Ohio Division of Forestry works to promote and apply management for the sustainable use of Ohio's private and public forest lands. Their website provides information about state forests and recreation, seedling sales, urban forestry, landowner assistance, forest industries, and fire protection. They provide access to online fishing and hunting licenses, park reservations and boat registrations. They also provide a list of the divisions of the ODNR.

Recreation Solutions- USDA Forest Service
About this Resource: The Recreation Solutions program of the Forest Service works to assist program leaders in the implementation of their programs in a more convenient, efficient and cost effective manner. The website contains listings of services provided and team members involved. There is contact information and project information as well. A newsletter is available for online viewing.

USDA Forest Service
About this Resource: The Forest Service manages public lands in national forests and grasslands to sustain their health, diversity, and productivity. The site provides links to international programs, the Fire and Aviation Management website, the State and Private Forestry site, maps and brochures, news, publications, and a photo and video gallery. There is information about passes and permits, projects and policies, regulations, manuals, research, technology and development. There are several resources regarding recreational activities, including a searchable database of forests and grasslands, brochures, reservations, special programs, and travel advisories. There are links to an employee search, information center, national offices and programs, phone directory, and regional offices.

Outdoor Recreation and Nature Tourism: A European Perspective
About this Resource: Recreation and nature tourism are increasingly important activities with many implications both economic and environmental. As society changes so the demands and trends for recreation and nature tourism change and develop. This poses many challenges for planners and managers of recreational areas and providers of services. This review article focuses on the situation in Europe but does not ignore some major trends and issues arising elsewhere, while much of the research can be traced back to ideas and methods developed elsewhere, such as the U.S.A. To set the scene the main social and environmental trends are presented that show how the changing nature of society feeds through in expectations and demands for recreation and nature tourism. Demographic changes, consumer behaviour and the increasingly mobile and connected lifestyles of European citizens have produced trends for outdoor recreation preferences and for broadening travel horizons. Knowing about these trends enables planners and entrepreneurs to change their recreation or tourism offer to meet these demands. However, these demands have to be seen in the context of changing pressures and sensitivities of the environments, frequently natural, in which recreation and nature tourism activities are located. Climate change is a prime example of these pressures. Many countries have developed sophisticated survey and other monitoring tools and instruments to identify demand, to monitor levels and types of activity, changing preferences and pressures on the environment. While recreation is often led by demand from people who wish to participate in certain activities there are also increasingly well recognised benefits to health and well-being from closer contact with nature. Policy makers in the health sphere are taking a keen interest in this and in the means for encouraging sedentary populations to engage with physical activity in natural environments. The evidence base for this is improving and is reviewed in this paper. Management of environments and visitors produces many conflicts which must be resolved. Recent surveys of forest recreation have enabled a European-wide pattern to be identified which will help planners and managers identify issues to be considered. The paper draws on work being undertaken as part of two EU funded Cost Actions: “Cost E33: Forest Recreation and Nature Tourism” and “Cost E39: Forests, Trees and Human Health and Well-being”. These allow experts from around Europe to network and to pool research and practice.

Valuing National Forest Recreation Access: Using a Stratified On-Site Sample to Generate Values Across Activities for a Nationally Pooled Sample
About this Resource: The Forest Service controls vast quantities of natural resources including timber, wildlife, watersheds, air sheds, and ecosystems. For many of these resources, recreation is one of the primary uses of the natural asset. Recreation visits taken to National Forests are not "purchased" in the same type of market as other goods (e.g., timber, grazing, or housing). The price of, and ultimately benefit received from, recreation to National Forests cannot be estimated via traditional market prices and quantities. Alternate methods must be employed to estimate the value of recreation access. We use on-site survey data from the Forest Service's National Visitor Use Monitoring database (2000-2003) and stated preference demand estimation methods to model annual recreation trip-taking behavior to National Forests. We then use these models to derive estimates of per-visit net economic benefits across regions and activities. In 2000, the FS began conducting systematic research into recreation visitation levels on National Forest lands under the National Visitor Use Monitoring Project (NVUM). From 2000 to 2003 NVUM has collected data from 120 National Forests providing information on the number of annual visits, primary activity, local area expenditures, satisfaction with facilities, and limited demographic information. These data were collected using an on-site stratified random sampling scheme resulting in over 90,000 completed surveys. Using the NVUM data we estimate the net economic value (NEV) of recreation on National Forest lands. The dataset used to estimate these values contains 73,655 observations. Using a truncated negative binomial estimator, weighted by a composite factor that adjusts for the stratified, on-site nature of the data, we have estimated a series of pooled, multi-site recreation demand models and calculated net economic values for recreational visits to the National Forests for each of fourteen activities and four RPA regions (Pacific, Rocky Mountain, Northern, and Southern) on a per visit per individual value and for a per activity day per individual basis. Our results indicate that for most models and specifications, adjusting for the choice based sampling frame by using a truncated, weighted, stratified, negative binomial estimator, as well as accounting for regional and activity differences, reduces the estimate of the average per day and per activity day values. Forest managers and others involved in managing, planning, and administering resources used for recreation often need an estimate of the economic value of the resource. For many of these resources non-market analysis must be used to generate this information. For forest recreation, many of the values currently available come from secondary sources or from small samples. The values estimated using NVUM represent an improvement over many of the currently available forest recreation values because of the unique nature of the large-scale, stratified random sample.

Marion Clawson's Contribution to Forestry
About this Resource: Marion Clawson passed away in April 1998 at the age of 92. He was a giant in the field of resource and environmental economics who devoted the last decade and one-half of his professional career to forest and forest related issues. He produced over 30 professional books and hundreds of papers. This paper presents a broad overview of his career as an economist, with a focus on his work in and influence on forestry and forest policy. From the early 1970s through to his last professional book in 1983, and his final professional contributions in the mid 1990s, Clawson devoted most of his professional efforts to forest issues. His influence on forests and forest policy was substantial, especially in the context of public policy toward America's publicly owned forested lands. He served as an external critic of the Forest Service, regularly calling for greater attention to be given to issues of economic efficiency in the management of public lands. His influence was probably greatest during the period from the early 1970s, when his service on the President's Advisory Panel on Timber and the Environment stimulated his interest in forestry, through the mid 1980s. During this period he authored several books on forestry and a number of influential articles.

Michigan's Forests, Land and Water
About this Resource: Michigan's Forests, Land and Water provides outdoor recreation opportunities, supports many jobs, and contributes over $13 billion to Michigan's economy each year. The site provides information on forest management, including: biodiversity, business and industry, fire management, forest certification, forest health, private forest lands, state forest open houses, state lands, urban forestry, and community forestry. There are links to the Forest, Mineral and Fire Management Offices and information about Michigan's expanding forest resources. There is information about land management, including best management practices, conservation, mines and minerals, natural areas, oil and gas, and park stewardship. The Water Management link provides information on dams and dam removal, inland lake maps, and natural rivers. There are related links and links to Michigan DNR sites on hunting, fishing, recreation, sales and leases, the learning corner, wildlife information, publications, and maps.

Land Areas of the National Forest System
About this Resource: This site provides land area data for each year as of September 30 as far back as September 30, 1994. The site also provides definitions of terms and a map of the National Forest System. The reports include information about national wilderness areas, recreation areas, game refuges, and scenic areas.

Assessing the recreation values at risk from wildfire: an exploratory analysis
About this Resource: The levels of participation in various types of outdoor recreation in forested areas are substantial. Studies have shown that over 18.5 million days, representing approximately 80% of recreation user days, were spent by Canadians in recreational activities in forested lands. Furthermore, recreation has significant social and economic value that should be reflected in management decisions if sustainable forest management is to be achieved. The importance of recreation in forests has resulted in the selection of measures of recreation participation as one of the relevant indicators of sustainable forest management reporting in Canada. This suggests that recreation areas should be an important component of the values of forest at risk due to loss from wildfire. However, the presence of recreationists, who are considered to be the highest values at risk, dispersed on the fire prone landscape presents some issues for fire management agencies. These issues include the possibility of recreationists perishing in a wildfire and/or the possibility of fire starts as a result of recreation activities which are projected to increase into the future. For fire management agencies that strive to suppress all wildfires, the latter issue is particularly challenging when faced with resource constraints. Thus, a move away from suppression of all wildfires to suppression based on protecting highest values at risk is needed. An explicit incorporation of recreation values is advantageous in that these values are closely linked to the presence of recreationists. Therefore, during fire events, directing resources to high value recreation areas fulfill a fire management goal of protecting highest values at risk as well as identifying areas of the landscape where the suppression efforts are to be directed.

THE TRADEOFFS IN ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT: THE CASE OF LOGGING AND RECREATION IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS
About this Resource: The US Forest Service is adopting ecosystem management, but the potential impact on local economies is unknown. Analysis via a recursive system of regression equations reveals that some ecosystem management variables have an influence upon recreational visitation which, in turn, has a net negative impact on county employment levels.

Protecting Soil and Water in Forest Road Management
About this Resource: The National Forest road system is the network that supports public recreation, which has become the primary use of the public lands. The pattern of use of National Forest roads for recreation has increased dramatically since the late 1940s and is expected to continue to increase beyond the rates observed today. However, research over the past 60 years clearly presents forest roads as a major source of sediment and soil erosion from forest watersheds. Threats to healthy forests have received increased attention in the past decade. In particular, roads, road management, and travel management will likely be critical to addressing the four threats to the health of the nation's forests and grasslands that were identified by USDA Forest Service. Road management is an important component in preserving and maintaining healthy forests throughout the nation. Sediment export from the existing forest road network is an issue of great concern in forest management. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of issues involved in managing the nation's public forest roads for the protection of soil and water. This article explores the benefit and efficacy of erosion mitigation, sediment control, and road BMPs in protecting soil and water. This article also suggests areas requiring additional research and development to satisfy the goals of protecting forest soil and water.

MEASURING FOREST RESOURCE VALUES: AN ASSESSMENT OF CHOICE EXPERIMENTS AND PREFERENCE CONSTRUCTION METHODS AS PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT TOOLS
About this Resource: Human values arising from forests include market and non-market values. Timber values and values of non-timber forest products traded in markets (berries, wild rice, etc.) are considered market values. Among non-market values are recreation values and values associated with wildlife harvesting by Aboriginal People. These are considered non-market because participation in these activities does not require the purchase of market based permits; prices do not function as rationing devices in these activities. In addition to non-market values arising from activities, individuals may also have values associated with forest conditions (biodiversity, etc.). These are referred to as passive use values since the value is not associated with any specific use of the resource or activity related to the forest. Since forests in Canada are largely on public land, these passive use values are particularly relevant to Canadian forest management. These values reveal the preferences of the public for components of forest management. Eliciting these values is a form of public involvement in that the public is engaged in assessing forest management options and providing opinions and sentiments regarding these options. Ideally, values arising from forests would be collected from a broad range of the public and examined to provide guidance to forest managers. However, values over forest outputs and conditions may be very poorly formed when people have little experience with the range and complexity of forest ecology and management. In addition, eliciting values without framing them in a trade-off setting can result in misleading estimates. In this project we attempt to elicit passive use values in a manner that allows for poorly defined initial notions of value through an approach known as preference construction. Preference construction essentially provides for education and information processing in the development of passive use values. These estimates are also developed using a trade-off approach (choice experiments). The project focuses on the values of the local public within the NorSask forest. More formally, the objectives of this research are to: 1) ascertain the passive use values held by local people associated with forests in the NorSask Forest Management License Area; 2) explore differences in preferences based on the degree and frequency of formal preference construction exercises; and 3) evaluate this approach as a method of public involvement. A total of 43 individuals from the local community were involved in the valuation exercise. They participated in 3 groups or treatments, each with a different level of involvement in the valuation assessment. The first group was involved in three separate sessions, allowing for significant preference construction and information acquisition. The second group was involved in only one session and the third group was involved only minimally through a telephone contact and the completion of a survey delivered through the mail. The hypothesis being examined was that the degree of involvement in the exercise would affect the responses either in terms of the variances of the responses or the actual preferences. Not all forest values can be examined in a single valuation task. In this case values associated with key game species (moose), wildlife species reflecting biodiversity or threatened species (caribou), old age classes of forest, protected areas and local employment were assessed. These were selected based on the preference construction sessions with the first group. A general trend was found in the ranking of forest values. The values were highest for increases in older forest age classes and protected areas and lower for caribou and moose levels (expressed in percentage changes relative to current levels). The lowest value arose from the local jobs generated by forestry activity. Monetary measures of these values were also developed. The scenario choices made by the individuals revealed that a 5% increase in moose and caribou populations would be worth approximately $10 and $12 per year. A 5% increases in old age classes or protected areas was worth approximately 4 to 5 times as much. They were willing to pay approximately $7 per year in increased taxes for increases in local employment. The hypothesis that the group preferences would differ was not accepted. The preferences of the first and third groups, while expected to be very different, were in fact quite similar. The second group did appear to be different from these other two but it is possible that significant variation in demographic characteristics was driving that difference, rather than the level of preference construction effort. The sample in the third group did however exhibit more resistance to completing the exercise and registered more protests to the value assessment. In conclusion, the approach employed was successful in eliciting passive use values for components of forest management. These values alone provide interesting information for managers to consider in the development of management plans. Evidence supporting the hypothesis that preference construction approaches improve these valuation exercises was not found in this study although this result must be tempered by the limitations arising from sample size and demographic composition of the study groups.

VISITOR PREFERENCES AND VALUES FOR WATER-BASED RECREATION: A CASE STUDY OF THE OCALA NATIONAL FOREST
About this Resource: We used the open-ended contingent valuation method to elicit willingnes to pay (WTP) for day visitors and extended visitors on the Ocala National Forest (ONF), Florida. A Tobit model specification was applied to account for the issues involved with censored WTP bids. The results reveal that visitors would pay more for improved recreational facilities at the ONF. In particular, our estimates show that visitors would pay $1 million for basic facilities, $1.9 million for moderate improvements, and $2.5 million for more improvements.

USE OF PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ATTRACTIVENESS INDEXES IN RECREATION DEMAND FUNCTIONS
About this Resource: The method of principal components is used to construct attractiveness indexes for existing and proposed wilderness areas in California. Rankings of areas based on this procedure are compared with those based on size and the subjective attractiveness index developed by the Forest Service. The derived indexes are then used to develop alternative opportunities variables that appear as explanatory variables in outdoor recreation demand functions. Results indicate that substantially better explanatory capacity can be achieved over alternative measures by including a competitive factor in the demand functions. The paper concludes by considering the substitution effects of introducing new wilderness areas into the system.

Estimating the Recreational Benefits of Dibeen National Park in Jordan Using Contingent Valuation and Travel Cost Methods
About this Resource: The objective of the study is to examine the recreational pattern of Dibeen National Park (DNP) in Jerash, Jordan and to estimate the use value that would be used to demonstrate the potential magnitude of this environmental amenity that cannot be ignored in policy making in Jordan. Two non-market evaluation techniques namely the contingent valuation method and travel cost model are used to estimate the economic value that Jordanians, place on improving DNP. A survey of 300 questionnaires was used to elicit the recreational value of DNP. Several models have been developed using the Travel Cost Method (TCM) and the open-ended contingent valuation method (OEWTP). Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate the travel cost model while the Tobit regression analysis was used to estimate the willingness to pay models. Using the TCM estimates, the average value of recreation in DNP is JD 71.55 (US$ 100) per person per recreation day. The mean of willingness to pay for conserving and improving the services on DNP from the OEWTP approach was JD 5.53 (US$ 7.8). The value of DNP to its users is can be estimated at approximately JD 13.6 million (US$ 19.2 million) a year using the TCM. This figure would vary from year to year depending on number of visitors. These findings suggest that the recreation values should be integrated in multiple use decision making process. According to the recently launched biodiversity strategy and action plan, the Government of Jordan is intending to implement a conservation projects in Dibeen and Ajloun regions, the two most important forest in Jordan. The results of this study could be used by researchers and policy analysts at the Ministry of Environment to justify the implementation of conservation of the two forests. Nevertheless, public goods should be managed to maximize the public benefits and recreation is indeed a public benefit of the forest resource.

Dynamics and management of silver fir stand in Tuscany: a review of long-term research
About this Resource: The paper aims to outline the guidelines for the management of silver fir stands in Tuscan Apennines, according to a review of research activities carried out by the Silviculture Institute of Florence, nowadays Department of Forest Environmental Technologies (DISTAF), from 1960 up to today. The study cases are placed in the Vallombrosa Forest Reserve (province of Florence), in the National Park of Foreste Casentinesi Monte Falterona e Campigna (province of Arezzo) and in Amiata Mountain (province of Siena). The main research activities concern different issues linked to the dynamics of silver fir stands: 1) ecology of natural regeneration, 2) stands dynamics in time, 3) sapling growth rates in relation with different canopy cover, 4) impact of wildlife on regeneration storey, 5) forest typology according to vegetation dynamics. As regards management aspects, the decrease of the importance of silver fir pure stands for timber production, as well as the increase of their role from naturalistic, recreation and landscape point of view, encourage close-to-nature sylviculture interventions aimed to promote stand dynamics towards mixed forest. Selective cuttings are proposed in order to progressively reduce the tree canopy cover and to favour the growth of regeneration layer. Nevertheless, wherever silver fir artificial stands play an important role from an historical point of view, the conservation of pure stand by means of clear cutting and artificial regeneration is recommended. Finally, the paper outlines the necessity to face the interactions between forest regeneration and wild ungulate populations, which currently represents one of the most dramatic problems of sustainable management.

Testing Welfare Measurement Gains of Combining Stated and Revealed Preferences Methods Using Count Data Models
About this Resource: This research updates the joint estimation of revealed and stated preference data of Cameron (1992) to allow for joint estimation of the Travel Cost Method (TCM) portion using count data models. Further these count data models reflect correction for truncation and endogenous stratification associated with commonly used on-site recreation sampling. Our updated modeling framework also allows for testing of consistency of behavior between revealed and stated preference data rather than imposing it. Our empirical example is river recreation visitors to the Caribbean National Forest in Puerto Rico. For this data set we find consistency between revealed preference and stated preference data. We also find little gain in estimation efficiency in our data. This may be due to our contingent valuation question eliciting willingness to pay for existing site conditions, a benefit measure conceptually very similar to what is estimated with TCM. However, our updated joint estimation may make a significant improvement in estimation efficiency when the contingent valuation scenarios involve major changes in site quality not reflected in the TCM data.

Wilderness and Primitive Area Recreation Participation and Consumption: An Examination of Demographic and Spatial Factors
About this Resource: This paper explores the influence of demographic and spatial variables on individual participation and consumption of wildland area recreation. Data from the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment are combined with geographical information system-based distance measures to develop nonlinear regression models used to predict both participation and the number of days of participation in wilderness and primitive area recreation. The estimated models corroborate previous findings indicating that race (black), ethnicity (Hispanic), immigrant status, age, and urban dwelling are negatively correlated with wildland visitation, while income, gender (male), and education positively affect wildland recreation participation and use. The presence of a distance or proximity factor mitigates some of the influence of race and ethnicity. The results of the cross-sectional models are combined with U.S. Census projections of total population, changes in population characteristics, and estimates of current National Forest Wilderness visitation estimates to give some insight into pressure that might be expected on the nation’s designated wilderness during the next half century. Results generally indicate that per-capita participation and visitation rates will decline over time as society changes. Total wilderness participation and visitation will, however, increase, but at a rate less than population growth.

Implementation of Recreation Fees by the U.S. Forest Service: 1996-2002
About this Resource: In recognition of the potential for recreational use fees to contribute to the operation, maintenance, and enhancement of public lands, Congress passed the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program in 1996, authorizing federal land management agencies to charge recreational use fees and retain the revenue. This study analyzes the response of federal land managers to this authority through estimation of the factors that influenced the fee setting decision by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) between 1996 and 2003. Both forest size and the availability of substitutes are estimated to delay fee implementation, while a large local population has a positive influence on the fee setting decision.

AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF OPTIMAL ROTATIONS IN A MULTIPLE-USE FOREST IN THE PRESENCE OF FIRE RISK
About this Resource: Fires are an important and natural component of forest ecosystems that affect the timber value of forests, and thus optimal rotations. Fire also affects amenity values provided by forests. This analysis examines the relationships among forest fire risk, timber values, and amenity values in a Faustmann rotation framework. An empirical application of the model is presented where jack pine growth in the Canadian Shield region is integrated with the nonmarket values associated with wilderness recreation. The results suggest that while the rotation period of jack pine is shorter in the presence of fire risk, the inclusion of this particular amenity would lengthen rotation periods. The level of visits to the wilderness area has a significant effect on the rotation period. Failure to account for backcountry recreation in rotations of forests in multiple-use wilderness areas of the Canadian Shield would result in suboptimal management.

Minneapolis Park and Recreaion Board: Urban Forests
About this Resource: The forestry section of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board works to maintain and preserve the urban forest by monitoring the planting, pruning, and removal of trees on public property. Their site provides information about reforestation, Dutch Elm Disease, tree removal, pruning, natural area management, storm response, gypsy moth, and disposal of private wood debris. There are links to information about the Wood Chip Program, volunteer information, and tree health tips.

Bedrijfsuitkomsten in de Nederlandse particuliere bosbouw over 2004
About this Resource: Annual overview of yields, costs and farm results of private forestry holdings with more than 5 hectares of forest, based on an accountancy network consisting of about 150 holdings. This edition contains the results for 2004 and previous years, specified by area of forest and region. In addition, the yield prices for wood and the size of wood sales are shown. Finally, this report further specifies costs and yields by the functions private forestry companies serve, such as wood production, nature conservation, recreation and landscape, and game management.

FORESTLAND OWNERSHIP IN ONEIDA AND VILAS COUNTIES, WISCONSIN, 1975-1994
About this Resource: Privately owned forests in the United States are being divided, roaded, and developed by increasing numbers of second-home buyers, retirees, and recreation enthusiasts. Forested parcels adjacent to or embedded in public land are considered especially desirable and a premium is being paid for the aesthetic or recreational amenities associated with such properties. However, virtually all information on variations in forestland prices in northern Wisconsin is anecdotal. One objective of this study was to identify parcel characteristics that influenced forestland prices in Vilas and Oneida counties, Wisconsin, between 1975 and 1994. A second objective was to ascertain what impact the creation and expansion of the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest (NHALSF) had on the forestland market in Vilas and Oneida counties during this time period. Several trends suggest that the drive to acquire forestland for the construction of second homes in Vilas and Oneida counties is strong and that the NHALSF continues to impact forestland prices. Forestland in Vilas and Oneida counties was shown to react to macroeconomic forces as if it were a luxury good (that is, declining sales during a recession, increasing sales during an economic upturn) and not simply a timber resource. Positive relationships were identified between the per-acre price of forestland, the presence of highway frontage, and parcel size for the years 1975, 1980, and 1990. Forested parcels adjacent to the NHALSF were shown to have higher per-acre prices than parcels without frontage on the NHALSF. The acquisition of land by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to expand the NHALSF has continued in recent decades, taking large quantities of land off the "open market." The reduced supply of available parcels in and near the NHALSF, as well as the highly desirable nature of owning forestland with frontage on public land, has caused the price of the remaining privately owned forestland in Vilas and Oneida counties to increase faster than similar forestland in other northern counties of Wisconsin.

Research NoteEffect of drought and fires on the quality of water in Lithuanian rivers
About this Resource: In August and September 2002, concentrations of heavy metals (copper, lead, and zinc) were 21-74% more than in previous years in Lithuanian rivers. Such a sudden increase in heavy metal pollution reduces the value of any water body for fishing or recreation and poses a potential risk to the environment and to human health. Droughts in the summer of 2002 led to forest and peat bog fires all over Lithuania and may have caused the increase in concentrations of heavy metals detected in Lithuanian rivers in August 2002. The fires could have changed the pH in the top layers of the soil, overcome geochemical barriers in the soil and enabled heavy metals to migrate from the soil to the groundwater and from river bottom sediments to the surface water. Keywords: heavy metals, river water quality, Lithuania