Title: Influence of carbon dioxide abatement and recreational services on optimal forest rotation

Authors: Alejandro Caparros, Pablo Campos, David Martin

Addresses: Institute of Economics and Geography (IEG), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Pinar 25, 28006 Madrid, Spain. ' Institute of Economics and Geography (IEG), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Pinar 25, 28006 Madrid, Spain. ' Department of Applied Economics II, University Complutense Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain

Abstract: This paper presents and applies a theoretical framework to integrate the influence of carbon dioxide abatement as well as recreational services on the optimal bio-economic determination of forest rotation. Recreational services are included in the standard way proposed by Hartman, but carbon fixation benefits are introduced in a different manner to previous studies, concentrating on total permanent carbon fixation produced by the forest. This framework is then applied to a case study in Spain, with a long-rotation indigenous species and in an area with important additional benefits. In the application, the ancillary benefit studied is recreation, but the framework could also be applied to include biodiversity values within the benefits of a given forest alternative. Data are obtained for Scots Pine in the Sierra de Guadarrama (Spain). A timber yield function specifically developed for the area is used. Carbon fixation is estimated for the whole biomass produced, taking into account carbon stored in deposits before being released. Recreational values associated with different age stands are determined by means of a contingent valuation study and photographs representing different age stands rated by visitors.

Keywords: carbon sequestration; optimal rotation; recreational services; timber; forest rotation; Spain; sustainable development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2003.004228

International Journal of Sustainable Development, 2003 Vol.6 No.3, pp.345 - 358

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

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