Pacific Southwest

Title: A contingent valuation study of the value of reducing fire hazards to old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest

Author: Loomis, John B.; González-Cabán, Armando; Gregory, Robin

Date: 1996

Source: Res. Paper PSW-RP-229. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 24 p

Station ID: RP-PSW-229

Description: A contingent valuation methodology was applied to old-growth forests and critical habitat units for the Northern Spotted Owl in Oregon to estimate the economic value to the public in knowing that rare and unique ecosystems will be protected from fire for current and future generations. Generalizing to the whole state, the total annual willingness-to-pay of Oregon residents ranges from $49.6 to $99 million. In terms of old-growth forests protected from fire, the value is $28 per acre.

Keywords: contingent valuation, fire economics, NOAA, nonmarket resources, oldgrowth valuation, willingness-to-pay

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Citation

Loomis, John B.; González-Cabán, Armando; Gregory, Robin  1996.  A contingent valuation study of the value of reducing fire hazards to old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest.   Res. Paper PSW-RP-229. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 24 p.