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Abstract
Kebede, E., J. Schelhas,
and J. Haslerig. 2008. Alternative forest resource use - outdoor
recreation and rural economies. JEMREST 5:00-00
Since
the 1980s demand for outdoor recreation has been increasing in the United States. Growing income and change in lifestyle have
been cited as factors contributing to the increase in demand. This period
also coincided with the decline in world timber price and loss of income to
forest land owners. Forest-based recreation intensified as part of the forest
management practice and compensated the fall in timber demand and contributed
income to forest land owners that enhanced rural economies. About 75% of Alabama is under forest cover, but little
is known about forest recreation utilization and its effects on local
communities. The objective of this study is to assess the relationship
between forestry and hunting/wildlife watching and its impact on property
owners and the multiplier effect on rural economies. Expenditure figures for
hunting and wildlife watching from the 2006 National Fish and Wildlife
Survey, and IMPLAN Alabama economic data was used for the analysis. The
result showed that hunting and wildlife watching have a 2.05 output
multiplier effect suggesting that a dollar spent in hunting and wildlife will
generate $2.05 in the economy whereas $1.13 is generated in the hunting and
wildlife and the next highest $0.73 is generated by forestry. Furthermore,
value added distribution showed that 65% accrues to property owners in the
form of proprietor’s income and other property income. It is fair to say that
outdoor recreation is a solid source of income to forestland owners, also has
a multiplier effect in the rural
economies.
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