Valuation Of Forest Resources In Mountainous Area Of Beijing

This study values the forest resources in mountainous area of Beijing using innovatively the basic theory and methods with regard to the value of forest resources on the basis of the comprehensive review for the meanings and classification of forest resources' value and their valuation methods. The research results will be meaningful to establish the correct forest value view, identify the contributions of forest resources in mountainous area of Beijing to the economic development of the Capital, promote the harmonious development between mountainous area and urban district of Beijing and reach the goal of socioeconomic sustainable development in the Capital.The seven mountainous counties of Beijing are chosen as case study area. The data concerning the forest resources, ecological observation and market price are collected. The direct use value of wooded land and standing timber and the indirect use value of forest environmental services such as watershed protection, soil protection, carbon sequestration and oxygen generation, environment purification, agricultural land protection, forest recreation and biodiversity protection are evaluated using market price method, substitution method and benefit transfer method. The non-use value of forest resources in mountainous area of Beijing are also evaluated using contingent valuation method (CVM). The investigation questionnaire is designed based on the principle of CVM and one thousand urban and rural households in Beijing are investigated in accordance with the random sample rules. The investigation data are analyzed using the software of SPSS and Excel. The affecting factors of the willingness to pay obtained by CVM are analyzed using the Logit model and Tobit model. The main analysis results are as follows:· The forest resources in mountainous area of Beijing have huge economic and environmental benefits. It is evaluated 13.91 billion yuan annually in money term, most of which is forest environmental service value, accounting for 91.21%. However, the benefit of these environmental services is not considered in the system of national economic account. The appropriated measures should be taken to internalize these external benefits.· The total present value of forest resources mountainous area of Beijing is 314.35 billion yuan in 2003 at the discount rate 5%, of which, the use value is 297.50 billion yuan, accounting for 94.64%; the nonuse value is 16.85 billion yuan, accounting for 536%. Of the use value, the dominant is indirect use value of forest environmental services, accounting for 90.32%, being as 9.33 times as the direct use value of wooded land and standing timber; Of the indirect use value, the first is the value of biodiversity protection (44%), the next is watershed protection (39%) and the third is purification environment (14%). Of the nonuse value, the dominant is the existence value, accounting for 57%; the next is bequest value, 24%; the last is the option value, 19%.· The value of forest resources in mountainous area of Beijing is affiliated and dynamic. Thequantity and quality of forest resource are the direct factors that affect its value. The concerned market prices selected for substitution are also important affecting factors. The payment ability and environmental awareness are the key factors that affect the willingness to pay for forest products and services. In the long-term, the willingness to pay for forest products and services will increase with the socioeconomic development and the improvement of income and environmental awareness.The outstanding of this paper are the following: It is the first time to make a comprehensive and systematic evaluation for the direct use value, indirect use value, existence value, option value and bequest value of the forest resources in mountainous area of Beijing, especially using CVM to evaluate the nonuse value, which fills up the gap of existing concerned researches. In addition, the scale of investigation is one thousand, greater than others. And the further econometric analysis is done to expl...