Metla Project 3472

Environmental and recreation services of forests: economic impacts, valuation, and business opportunities

[  Suomeksi  |  Objectives  |  Project leader  |  Researchers  |  Publications  |  Metla Research  ]

Duration: 2007-2010   Keywords: Protected areas, entrepreneurship , hedonic pricing, input-output model, market creation, nature tourism, nonmarket valuation, outdoor recreation, policy instruments, regional economic impact, scenic values, travel cost method, urban forests
Research Programme: Wellbeing from forests

Objectives

The economic aspects of forest-based environmental and recreational services are examined from several compelementary points of view. The subprojects deal with the regional economic impacts of nature-based tourism, welfare effects of the recreational services of conservation areas and value of urban forested areas in moneraty terms, and possibilities of creating markets for the environmental services of forests. (1) Input-output methods are used to examine the contribution of national parks to the local economy in terms of income and employment from nature-based tourism. (2) The recreational use of state-owned areas, such as national parks, is examined with non-market valuation methods to provide monetary measures for the welfare effects and to develop the travel cost method (TCM). The economic value of urban green areas is investigated using the hedonic pricing method (HPM) and models based on housing prices. (3) Market creation is examined as an emerging new policy instrument for the production of public goods. While a promising policy tool with avenues for new business opportunities, this has been little discussed in Finland so far. Applications include the development of a working pattern of scenic and recreational values trading. The results are applicable to the planning of forest and environmental policy, management of national parks, urban land-use planning, and development of entrepreneurship based on environmental services. One central objective is the development of methods used for non-market valuation and assessment of regional economic impacts.

Project leader: Ovaskainen, Ville
The Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Unit, PL 18, FI-01301 VANTAA, FINLAND
Phone: +358 10 211 5465 Telefax: +358 10 211 2103
E-mail: ville.ovaskainen@metla.fi

Other researchers: Huhtala, Maija (2008-10), Lovén, Lasse (2007), Naskali, Arto, RO (2007-10), Tyrväinen, Liisa, RO (2008,2010), Vatanen, Eero (2009)


Top of page

Updated 24.05.2012
Comments