The economic value of the priceless: revealing the benefits of outdoor recreation in Finland : Doctoral Dissertation
Lankia, Tuija (2020)
Lankia, Tuija
Julkaisusarja
Natural resources and bioeconomy studies
Numero
8/2020
Sivut
49 p.
Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
2020
© Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-326-912-5
http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-326-912-5
Tiivistelmä
The benefits of outdoor recreation are numerous. By the everyman’s right there is an abundant supply of outdoor recreation opportunities in Finland, and outdoor recreation is a popular way for Finns to spend free time. In this thesis the importance of the recreational use of nature in Finland was studied in economic terms.
First, the value of recreational use of nature in Finland was mapped. The number of recreation visits was estimated regionally and by three different area types 1) areas used under everyman’s right, 2) state owned recreation and nature conservation areas, and 3) leisure homes. The monetary value of the visits is estimated using the travel cost method. The results of the mapping demonstrated the recreational value of ecosystems in monetary terms. In terms of the total number of visits and the value of visits the results emphasized the relative importance of close-to-home recreation compared to longer nature trips including overnight stays.
Second, the extent of the recreation benefits obtained from visits to leisure homes was estimated with the travel cost method. The results showed how location by a shoreline and an electricity supply of a leisure home increased the recreational value of a visit but presence of harmful algal bloom that prevents water recreation decreased it. The recreation value per visit was estimated to be €170–250 per trip. According to the results, the presence of algae that prevent aquatic recreation decreases the value per trip by 40 per cent, and the lack of a beach reduces it by 45 per cent; electricity supply in a leisure home increases the value by 3–5 per cent.
Third, the effect of hypothetical future changes in water quality on recreational benefits of swimming in Finland was assessed. Based on population level recreation demand survey and combined travel-cost contingent behavior model, the recreational value of swimming in natural waters in Finland in current state were estimated to be 16 euros per visit. A hypothetical decline in water quality to a level at which the water visibility would be less than 1 m and abundant slime would exist decreased the value to 9 euros. A water quality improvement to a level at which the perceived water visibility would be over 2 m and no slime would exist increased the value per trip to 22 euros.
Fourth, individual recreationists’ willingness to pay to land owners for management practices that influence recreational quality was investigated. About 10 per cent of the recreationists who participated in the survey were willing to pay to direct the management of their typical recreation site on privately owned lands and about half were willing spend their own time on the practical work of the nature management. The mean willingness to pay was estimated to be 92 euros per year and the mean willingness to spend own time 3.5 days per year.
First, the value of recreational use of nature in Finland was mapped. The number of recreation visits was estimated regionally and by three different area types 1) areas used under everyman’s right, 2) state owned recreation and nature conservation areas, and 3) leisure homes. The monetary value of the visits is estimated using the travel cost method. The results of the mapping demonstrated the recreational value of ecosystems in monetary terms. In terms of the total number of visits and the value of visits the results emphasized the relative importance of close-to-home recreation compared to longer nature trips including overnight stays.
Second, the extent of the recreation benefits obtained from visits to leisure homes was estimated with the travel cost method. The results showed how location by a shoreline and an electricity supply of a leisure home increased the recreational value of a visit but presence of harmful algal bloom that prevents water recreation decreased it. The recreation value per visit was estimated to be €170–250 per trip. According to the results, the presence of algae that prevent aquatic recreation decreases the value per trip by 40 per cent, and the lack of a beach reduces it by 45 per cent; electricity supply in a leisure home increases the value by 3–5 per cent.
Third, the effect of hypothetical future changes in water quality on recreational benefits of swimming in Finland was assessed. Based on population level recreation demand survey and combined travel-cost contingent behavior model, the recreational value of swimming in natural waters in Finland in current state were estimated to be 16 euros per visit. A hypothetical decline in water quality to a level at which the water visibility would be less than 1 m and abundant slime would exist decreased the value to 9 euros. A water quality improvement to a level at which the perceived water visibility would be over 2 m and no slime would exist increased the value per trip to 22 euros.
Fourth, individual recreationists’ willingness to pay to land owners for management practices that influence recreational quality was investigated. About 10 per cent of the recreationists who participated in the survey were willing to pay to direct the management of their typical recreation site on privately owned lands and about half were willing spend their own time on the practical work of the nature management. The mean willingness to pay was estimated to be 92 euros per year and the mean willingness to spend own time 3.5 days per year.
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