The economic value of recreation in the Seymour River corridor: A comparison of developed and protected river reaches using the travel cost method

ealthy stream ecosystems generate diverse economic benefits for residents of British Columbia. These include benefits provided by fish, wildlife, plants, clean freshwater, and watershed recreation. This study utilizes the travel-cost method, to determine the economic value of recreation benefits provided by the Seymour River corridor near Vancouver, British Columbia. The value of two adjacent river sections is compared: an 8.2-kilometre corridor which is protected in its natural state, and a 3.7-kilometre corridor which has been influenced by urban development.;Between May 11 and August 2, 1992, personal interviews were conducted with 255 parties to gather travel-cost data from recreationists visiting the two river sections. During the 12-week stratified sampling period, 126 parties were interviewed in the protected river section and 129 in the developed river section.;The average net value of recreation benefits generated per visit was estimated to be...