The High Cost of Amenities in Private Forests
A new study has found that the price tag for introducing amenities like trails, camping, and fishing in private forests could cost landowners in the U.S. up to $2.2 billion a year. The study, published in Forest Policy and Economics, examines how much it will cost private forest owners to implement these amenities in their forests, and the potential economic impacts of doing so.
The study found that the cost of introducing these amenities would vary greatly depending on the types of amenities offered, the size of the forest, and the location. For example, providing camping and fishing amenities would cost an average of $1,690 per acre, while trails would cost an average of $1,120 per acre. The study also estimated that implementing these amenities would bring in an average of $3,244 in revenue per acre, creating a net economic benefit of about $1,554 per acre. These economic benefits could be especially beneficial to rural communities, as the study found that the largest economic gains would be seen in more rural areas.
source: Phys.org