Mapping the Recreational Value of Coppices’ Management Systems in Tuscany

Francesco Riccioli, Roberto Fratini, Claudio Fagarazzi, Mario Cozzi, Mauro Viccaro, Severino Romano, Duccio Rocchini, Salomon Espinosa Diaz and Clara Tattoni
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Francesco Riccioli: Department of Veterinary Science—Rural Economics Section, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Roberto Fratini: Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Sciences and Technologies, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
Claudio Fagarazzi: Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Sciences and Technologies, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
Mario Cozzi: School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Mauro Viccaro: School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Severino Romano: School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Duccio Rocchini: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Zamboni, 33-40126 Bologna, Italy
Salomon Espinosa Diaz: Department of Veterinary Science—Rural Economics Section, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Clara Tattoni: Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Sciences and Technologies, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-18

Abstract: In recent decades the growing interest in forested areas has led to a higher level of appreciation and consideration regarding the various benefits and services provided by forests. Despite this, when it comes to acknowledging their economic value and their capacity to produce income, the production of timber seems to be the main or even the only function that is considered. However, by adopting a sustainable forest management approach, the value related to non-market forest functions could also be considered. The present paper aims to quantify the potential income related to the recreational value of coppice forest by considering three different management systems: traditional coppice, active conversion to high forest and the natural evolution of forest. In order to do so, a contingent valuation method was used, and 248 forest users were surveyed in the region of Tuscany, Italy. The surveys included a revised price-list method, and the results obtained showed the existence of willingness to pay (WTP) for the maintenance of forests. Users showed a strong preference for conversion to high forest, while natural evolution was the least preferred management option. People’s perception on this matter was also assessed based on their specific location, by georeferencing all of the respondents’ answers: considering this, it was observed that belonging to a municipality located in or close to the mountains (i.e., mountain and natural municipalities) influenced the users’ WTP to maintain natural evolution.

Keywords: recreational value; ecosystem services; interval regression model; CES mapping; mapping respondents’ preferences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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