Attitudes,willingness to pay,and stated values for recreation use fees at an urban proximate forest

Studies have combined contingent valuation and attitude theory in models directly predicting willingness to pay recreation fees. Little research, however, has modeled predictions of attitudes toward fees on both the intention to pay (WTP) and stated payment amount ($WTP) simultaneously. This article addresses that knowledge gap using onsite survey data from 1068 recreationists at the McDonald-Dunn forest in Oregon. Attitudes toward paying an annual fee at this forest were directly associated with WTP and were among the strongest predictors of WTP. Respondents with supportive attitudes toward paying the annual fee were more willing to pay than those who were opposed. The strength of attitudes also influenced WTP, with those respondents having stronger opposition being least likely to pay. Attitudes toward paying a fee were indirectly (i.e., mediation) related to the stated payment amount ($WTP), suggesting that payment is influenced by intention to pay (WTP), and this intention is partially a function of attitudes about fees.     

20 years of stated preference valuation of non-timber benefits from Fennoscandian forests: A meta-analysis

Stated preference (SP) surveys have been conducted to value non-timber benefits (NTBs) from forests in Norway, Sweden and Finland for about 20 years. The paper first reviews the literature and summarises methodological traditions in SP research in the three countries. Second, a meta-regression analysis is conducted explaining systematic variation in Willingness-to-Pay (WTP). Two important conclusions emerge, with relevance for future research: (1) WTP is found to be insensitive to the size of the forest, casting doubt on the use of simplified WTP/area measures for complex environmental goods; and (2) WTP tends to be higher if people are asked as individuals rather than on behalf of their household.     

Can environmental attributes influence protected area designation? A case study valuing preferences for springs in Grand Canyon National Park

Springs in Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA) provide water to over 6 million visitors per year. In addition to use value for visitors, springs have cultural value to indigenous peoples and provide critical habitat for plants and animals. Finally, base flow to the Colorado River is dependent upon springs and they also provide an important water source for backcountry recreation. Climate change, uranium mining, and increased groundwater pumping threaten the continued viability of Grand Canyon springs. Springs protection is at the forefront of proposed national policy to protect the area of the aquifers contributing to springs of the Grand Canyon outside of the designated boundaries of the national park. To date very little research on the non-market values of springs has been conducted, and no research has estimated non-market values of springs within Grand Canyon National Park using a Choice Experiment (CE). We conduct a nationwide online Choice Experiment to determine willingness to pay (WTP) to protect backcountry springs and attributes including; accessibility, suitability as a back country water source, suitability as habitat for species of concern, aesthetics, and significance to Indigenous Nations. We estimate a Bayesian mixed logit, and find an average willingness to pay of $32.60 per household for a spring with the presence of all five attributes. The habitat attribute produces the highest WTP of $14.80. We find WTP of $4.50 for springs with cultural significance. Results from our study could be instrumental in designation of the Grand Canyon National Heritage Monument. In addition, our results indicate that careful consideration of watershed services on public lands is essential for efficient decision-making regarding protection of public lands.     

Assessing the financial contribution and carbon emission pattern of provisioning ecosystem services in Siwalik forests in Nepal: Valuation from the perspectives of disaggregated users

Provisioning Ecosystem Services (PS) from the forests contribute much to peoples’ livelihoods as well as to the national economy. Previous studies have been constrained by their primary focus on biophysical quantification of PS through modelling and mapping or aggregated monetary valuation, while little attention has been paid to the issues of the distribution of financial benefits among the different forest subgroups. Using market price and substitute good price methods, this paper assesses how local users exploit financial benefits and emit carbon from the use of PS in two dominant community-based forest management systems (community forestry—CF and collaborative forestry—CFM) based on proximity (nearby vs. distant users) and socio-economic class (rich vs. poor users) in the Siwalik region, Nepal. Results indicated that the wealth level of the users plays a key role in the amount of financial benefits generated from the use of PS: (1) users living near forests receive the highest economic benefits compared to those living long distances from the forest area. However the distribution of benefits differs according to management modality and socioeconomic status; (2) CF users, on average, receive higher economic benefits than CFM users; and (3) compared to poor households, rich households receive higher benefits. On average, a rich household adjacent to CF receives USD 1214/year while a poor household living in the same area receives almost half of that (USD 630/year). Similarly, a poor household living far from a forest area generates USD 189/year, slightly higher than that of a rich household in the same area (USD 109/year); and (4) an average CF user emits more carbon (7.4 tCO₂/HH/year) from the consumption of PS than an average CFM user (5 tCO₂/HH/year). Finally, we discuss the reasons behind these differences and draw policy implications for developing and refining constitutions and operational plans of forest user groups.     

天鹅山林场森林景观异质性分析

景观空间格局分析是景观生态学研究的核心问题;利用SPOT5数据以及森林资源调查数据在资兴市天鹅山林场开展森林景观异质性分析,对林场森林资源景观分为杉木林、阔叶林、竹林、灌木林、松林、幼林及非林地等7种景观类型,结合Fragstats3.3景观分析软件进行景观格局指数计算,研究结果表明:天鹅山林场一级森林景观斑块总体密度平均值为7.6458块/hm2,在7个森林景观类型中,以竹林的斑块密度最高,其次才是阔叶林、松林、非林地、杉木林和幼林;景观多样性指数为1.5377,均匀度指数为0.7902,优势度指数为0.4802,说明景观异质性较高,景观类型丰富。     

Identifying salient forest SES attributes for sustainability: A multi-country study

The question of under what settings locally managed forests will lead to successful conservation without frustrating the local people’s subsistence outcomes remains contested. This research investigates the relationship between attributes of locally managed forest SES and its forest and livelihood outcomes using data from 83 forest SESs across seven countries. The data were obtained from the International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI) database. Thirteen predicators that were selected from the attributes of forest, user group and governance of the local forest SES were used to evaluate their influence on SES sustainability. Our results showed that sustainable forest SES was significantly associated with forest size, diversity of the NTFP that is extracted from the forest, networks among the forest users, rule making by external non-forest harvest organizations in dispute resolution, and benefits sharing. On the other hand, the distance of forest users’ settlements in the forest, rule making for forest protection and harvest quantity as well as sanctions by external non-forest harvest organizations were found to be significantly associated with unsustainable forest SESs. Our findings have important implications for the ongoing discourse on how to promote sustainable forest management at local level. The results on the success factors can assist decision makers to improve the chances for the success of forest governance that rely on local people who depend upon forests.     

Governance of non-wood forest products in Russia and Ukraine: Institutional rules,stakeholder arrangements,and decision-making processes

Aspects of governance of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) include institutional rules, stakeholder arrangements, and decision-making processes that govern production systems from access to resources, their use, and to markets. Compared with other forest products, few studies have investigated the governance of NWFPs in European post-socialistic countries transitioning from a planned to a market economy. This study compares institutional frameworks and stakeholder arrangements related to NWFPs in Russia and Ukraine using a case study approach. Both countries have a legacy of top-down forest government, state-owned forests, and rural communities with a long dependence on plant- and animal-based NWFPs. We analysed legal documents for NWFPs in each country and conducted expert interviews with stakeholders from the public, private, and civil sectors involved in the decision-making process of NWFPs. Institutional frameworks for NWFPs in both countries are complex, unclear, and overlap. Multiple legal documents contain restrictions regarding the extraction and sustainability of NWFPs. However, no special laws or policies are solely for NWFPs; all measures are included in legislation that regulates nature conservation and forest management. The government of both countries tends to overlook non-industrial forest use undertaken by marginal local communities, even if economic, social, and cultural values of NWFPs are relatively high for local and regional development. A misfit is observed between legal frameworks and forest companies’ business policies with customary rights. This phenomenon caused a shift to introduce new stakeholder arrangements related to NWFPs as a special type of resource in areas where NWFPs are heavily used both for subsistence and for generating household income by local communities. Landscape approach initiatives such as model forests and biosphere reserves may empower local communities to find means to protect their rights, needs, interests, and values related to NWFPs.     

Multifunctional forest management in Northern Portugal: Moving from scenarios to governance for sustainable development

If there is a strong argument in favour of multifunctional forest management, there is also controversy regarding the types of multifunctionality able to instil virtuous circles across landscapes. Managing forests in such a way that user groups, sustainability practitioners and forestry institutions all agree to, is not easy. For any reliable consensus to occur, via viable landscape design procedures, through which multiple functions (production, environmental protection and recreation) may be coordinated by means of innovative planning, there is a need to negotiate a set of common objectives and shared responsibilities. This paper examines the policy dimensions of multifunctional forest management, and, through an exploratory case study, proposes an approach for cooperative planning and institutional design. The case study involved two parishes in the Minho region of Portugal (Gavieira and Entre Ambos-os-Rios) combining the local communities, the National Park, and local forestry officers. The case study created, developed and validated two scenario storylines through a series of participatory processes (two focus group meetings, one comprehensive workshop, and one expert meeting). One scenario focussed on continuity of the traditional management patterns, with an emphasis on direct goods such as timber and livestock grazing (traditional multifunctionality). The other concentrated on indirect ecological services, such as soil and water protection, as well as carbon sequestration (new multifunctionality). An attempt was also made to implement the scenario storylines through initiating a pilot project in both of the case study areas. However, there were neither robust planning mechanisms nor adaptive governance systems with the capacity to put into place forest management “futures” likely to deliver more sustainable landscape-scale uses in these areas. This paper illustrates the difficulties in forging governance systems that have the capacity and the vision to be able to put sustainable development concepts into practice, even when a coherent package of planning measures are tried out, given a policy setting that is confused, contradictory, and where the “status quo” tends to be given prominence.     

Spatial allocation of forest recreation value

Non-market valuation methods and geographic information systems are useful planning and management tools for public land managers. Recent attention has been given to investigation and demonstration of methods for combining these tools to provide spatially-explicit representations of non-market value. Most of these efforts have focused on spatial allocation of ecosystem service values based on land cover types, but recreation value has yet to be considered. This article presents an objective method for spatially allocating forest recreation value that is based on readily available data, demonstrates the method for a Southern California study site, and discusses the policy relevance of the method and how it might be extended to other applications and tested with additional primary survey data.     

基于CVM不同支付方式的耕地保护外部性测度及其差异性分析

[目的]支付方式的科学设置对CVM在耕地保护外部性评估中的应用具有重要意义。文章基于CVM不同支付方式视角,以焦作市耕地保护外部性测度为例,剖析不同支付方式的耕地保护外部性测度结果的差异性。[方法]采用支付卡式CVM。[结果](1)"出钱"、"义务劳动"、"出钱和义务劳动"不同支付方式下的年户均耕地保护支付意愿(WTP)差异性是产生单位面积耕地保护外部性差异的根本原因;(2)居民家庭收入水平、文化程度、与耕地的关联程度、耕地生态社会效益认知程度、可支配的闲暇时间、劳动力成本及农产品成本收益等是造成不同支付方式的城镇居民和农户耕地保护WTP差异的主要影响因素。[结论]通过与基于单边界二分式的焦作市耕地保护居民WTP测度结果对比表明,在科学设置支付区间和假想市场情景、合理进行假想偏差规避下,基于支付卡式综合计算整理的"出钱和义务劳动"方式的居民耕地保护支付意愿和单位面积耕地保护外部性测度结果具有较高的可靠性。研究最终选取"出钱和义务劳动"方式下的1 624.9元/(hm~2·年)作为焦作市单位面积耕地保护外部性测度结果,该结果可作为现实条件下耕地保护经济补偿标准的理论参考依据。     

基于CVM方法的福州国家森林公园游憩价值评价

基于CVM方法对福州国家森林公园的游憩价值进行评价,调查结果得出:2015年福州国家森林公园的游憩价值为2.164亿元。游客对公园的满意度和旅游次数与游客的支付意愿呈显著正相关(p0.05),游客的家庭人口数(p0.01)、月收入(p0.01)和职称(p0.05)与游客的WTP值呈显著正相关。基于研究,景区应在生态环境、服务设施和质量上进一步挖掘公园潜在的游憩价值,并在游客森林游憩过程中,普及生态环境知识和宣传教育,提高游客的生态保护意识。     

农户公益林抚育需求意愿及影响因素分析——以天保工程区玉龙县和会理县为例

以天保区云南省玉龙县和四川省会理县为例,通过农户问卷调查法,取得187份有效样本,运用二元Logistic回归法对农户公益林抚育需求意愿进行分析。结果显示:受教育程度、林业收入占家庭收入比例、非农收入占家庭收入比例、参加林业技术培训与否、知道公益林补偿政策与否及开展过森林抚育工作与否等因素对农户公益林抚育需求意愿有显著影响。在具体分析各因素后,提出提高农户森林抚育需求意愿、进一步促进公益林保护与建设的对策建议。     

加强森林经营 提高森林质量——从编制实施森林经营方案出发

我国长期忽视森林经营所带来的严重后果:森林质量差,森林病虫害严重,抗自然灾害能力低;森林总量不足,后备资源匮乏;森林资源保护形势严重。森林经营是现代林业的永恒主题,森林经营方案是加强森林经营的关键。编好森林经营方案,必须提高认识,依法行事;把握原则,明确要求;夯实基础,技术创新;加强培训,组织试点。实施好森林经营方案,必须确立地位,政策调控;完善机制,加强监督;适时评价,调整提高。     

Amenity values and payment schemes for free recreation services from non-industrial private forest properties: A French case study

Free-access recreation on private forest property is gaining in importance with the increasing social demand for forest-based recreation. The amended French Forest Law of 2001 provides for schemes with a voluntary contract, in terms of which private forest owners are paid to maintain an open-access forest for nature-based recreational activities, which are largely public goods. The main objective of this paper is to analyze private forest landowners’ commitment to free-access recreation services on their properties. We develop a framework to estimate their willingness-to-accept (WTA) values as a measure of the financial compensation that they expect in exchange of reduced forest amenity values due to a public recreation use management plan. Since forest holdings are permanently exposed to several types of risk, the willingness-to-accept measure is defined within a subjective expected utility modeling approach. Our empirical analysis draws on data from a contingent valuation design carried out in 2006 in the Landes district in France. The empirical distribution of the subjective probability of fire risk is deduced from the forest owners’ perception of fire risks due to free recreation use. We then introduce our measurements of the fire risk as explanatory variables of the forest owners’ financial compensation requirements.     

城郊森林公园游憩满意度影响因素研究

以福州的3个城郊森林公园调查数据为研究样本,构建了城郊森林公园游憩满意度影响因素理论模型,运用结构方程模型进行验证。结果表明:游憩目的对可达程度有显著正向影响,自然环境、服务环境、管理环境分别受到游憩目的和可达程度的显著正向影响,可达程度对服务环境的满意度作用最为显著,游憩目的对管理环境的满意度作用次之。提出了提升城郊森林公园可达程度,提高游客游憩满意度,加强城郊森林公园保护管理等建议。     

伊春林区森林生态资产比较评估和运营途径研究

随着经济和社会的快速发展,人们越来越关注自然资源的价值和生态环境的效益。评估森林生态资产已经成为学术界研究的焦点问题。通过比较其他研究者的成果,总结出生态资产评估现存的三个视角,并分析了各自的优缺点。按照寒温带针叶林、温带落叶阔叶林、针阔混交林等不同林分,对伊春林区森林的涵养水源价值、固定C02和释放02价值、保育土壤价值、营养物质循环和养分储藏、净化大气环境、生物多样性保护、森林景观资源等7种生态资产形式在三种视角下做出评估,并比较三种视角下的差异,在此基础上提出了生态资产运营途径,旨在为伊春林区森林可持续发展政策的制定提供参考依据,对该区域森林资源保护和利用具有重要的意义。     

Factors affecting participation in joint forest management in the West Bengal state of India

This study analyses participation in joint forest management (JFM). The study is based on in-depth interviews with 150 households of Forest Protection Committees (FPC) in Paschim Medinipur district in the West Bengal state of India. Based on a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of 14 participatory indicators, it follows that “social” aspects of participation are considerably less important in West Bengal than as found elsewhere in India, while the perception of the environment (first and third factor) stand out as the most important aspects of participation in JFM, jointly explaining almost half of the variance. Regression analyses indicate that household size, the number of forest committee meetings, religion of the household, willingness to pay of the household for the forest protection and the size of land holding are important variables for explaining variation in levels of participation. Results from estimating game theoretic models on participation among villagers in JFM indicates that in two out of the four possible situations, harmonious sharing of the benefits is an (Nash) equilibrium, but not unique. In all cases, institutional checks and balances are needed to guarantee mutual participation, which is possible only by strengthening the JFM management body.     

国有林区开展群众管护经营改革的探索——青海省试点调研

青海省麦秀林区地处三江源自然保护区核心区,又属林牧交错地区,其改革保护与发展矛盾突出。尝试在黄南州麦秀国有林区开展森林资源家庭承包管护经营改革的试点。根据调查,林区群众表示在生活水平不降低的前提下愿意参与森林承包经营管护。因此制定了较完善的承包方案,包括承包责任管理和监督、承包费用、经营内容、保障措施,对农牧交错地区的国有林区改革进行了有益探索。     

岷江上游森林生态系统服务条件价值评估

针对岷江上游森林生态系统服务现状,采用条件价值评估法(CVM),以支付卡形式设计了374份调查问卷,调查了岷江流域居民对上游森林生态系统服务的支付意愿(WTP)。结果表明:岷江流域60.80%的居民家庭对岷江上游森林生态系统服务存在支付意愿,平均支付意愿为每户每年44.00元。按照岷江流域现有家庭数量计算,岷江上游森林生态系统服务价值每年是5 507.48×104元。利用二元Logistic模型,对支付意愿与个人社会经济变量进行了较为详尽的分析,并对影响居民支付意愿的主要因素作了环境经济学解释。     

森林认证促进生态环境保护的路径——基于顺昌县国有林场的调查

在对福建省顺昌县国有林场开展森林认证情况进行调查的基础上,对开展森林认证活动促进生态环境保护的路径调研结果表明:森林认证是通过森林资源经营管理单位开展认证知识培训、环境影响评估、生产作业监管、废弃物清理、认证年度审核、不符合项整改、野生动植物监测、高保护价值森林经营等生产经营管理活动来促进生态环境保护的,强化生产经营过程的监管,可以使所有生产作业都操作规范、安全环保,确保生产活动对环境的破坏降到最低程度。此外,顺昌县国有林场近年来采用的一种特殊的经营模式——不完全采伐保留阔叶树的主伐、在中幼龄阔叶树下营造杉木林、不炼山"耙带"式造林,可以减少水土流失,有利于生态环境保护。针对开展森林认证会增加森林生产经营成本但却能显著促进生态环境保护而提出政府应该加大森林认证宣传力度、建立森林认证补偿激励机制等建议。