Integrating forest-oriented recreation with timber growing –a case study of economic factors

Abstract

California's affluent, growing population is using more outdoor recreation services than ever before. Camping, for example, has increased at a phenomenal rate since the war and more people are investing in summer and weekend vacation homes in such areas as Lake Tahoe. Many forest owners want to know whether they can increase their incomes by adding recreation enterprises to their land management programs. The answer is not obvious. Developing the recreational resources of a forest may require a large capital outlay, even for a primitive campground. Also, income from timber production must be sacrificed if a tract of land is shifted to recreational use. The demand for recreational services must be evaluated in terms of possible cash receipts.