Estimating the Southern Pine Beetle's Impact on Reservoir Campsites

Authors: Leuschner, William A.; Young, Rodney L.

Source: Forest Science, Volume 24, Number 4, 1 December 1978 , pp. 527-537(11)

Publisher: Society of American Foresters

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Abstract:

Campground demand functions are estimated and recreation value measured by the area under the demand curve. The value of an independent variable, percent of the campground covered by pine crowns, is varied to simulate Dendroctonus frontalis attacks, and recreation value is reestimated. The difference between the two recreation values is the onsite loss caused by people no longer visiting the attacked site. The onsite loss is then adjusted for people substituting other nonattacked sites. The methodology was applied to two East Texas reservoirs for 1973. Annual recreation value was $7,700,000 if travel time cost was excluded and $12,400,000 if it was included. Onsite damages ranged from $3,500 to $1,204,000 depending on the recreation site, the severity of attack, and whether time costs were included. However, the systemwide damages, when adjusted for nonattacked site substitution, were only 10-15 percent of the onsite damages. Forest Sci. 24:527-537.

Keywords: Dendroctonus frontalis; economics; benefit-cost; demand analysis; recreation value

Document Type: Journal article

Affiliations: 1: Former Graduate Research Assistant, School of Forestry and Wildlife Resources, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061

Publication date: 1978-12-01

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