Monetary value and social role of forest recreation services in Latvia
2011
Jankovska, I., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia) | Donis, J., Latvian State Forest Research Inst. Silava, Salaspils (Latvia) | Straupe, I., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia)
Recreation services are the forests’ non-market goods which constitute a substantial part of the total economic value and are important for the choice of multi-functional forest policies. However recreational services do not always have a market price and comparatively less literature applies value orientations to examine issues concerned with recreational use of natural resources. This research reports on the findings of the comprehensive, national-level study about the contribution of forest recreational services to Latvia’s national economy in 2009 and about the respondents’ declared choices, travel costs and willingness to contribute some money for improvement of amenities in a forest. Two general information sources were used to obtain the information - available statistical data and the contingent valuation survey to estimate the respondents’ choices and habits for recreation activities in the forests. Results show that forest recreation is very popular and highly valued in Latvia. The statistical analysis confirms that the significant differences exist between varied respondents’ socioeconomic groups in their objectives, choices and preferences to use the forest recreational services.
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