Recreation value of forests in Lorraine: a spatial analysis [Abstract]
Résumé
Heterogeneity in households' preferences for recreational use of forests may lead to spatial sorting, i.e. households choose their residential location in accordance with their preference for forest recreation. In this study we estimate the recreational value of forests in Lorraine applying revealed and stated preference data. Our approach allows us to estimate individual-specific preferences fore recreational use of different forest types. These estimates are used in a second stage of the analysis where we test wether preferences depend on the access to recreation sites. A correlation between access to forests and preferences may indicate spatial sorting driven by spatial heterogeneity in the access to forest recreation. Spatial sorting has implications for the estimation procedures in valuation studies but may also have policy implications, e.g. influencing the choice of afforestation areas.