Tourism In Exurban Postindustrial Forests In Appalachia

Abstract: The urban-rural fringe often has been an area where the battle over the values of the biophysical and social worlds has played out. When this area involves forestland, the economic worth of the land is often seen only through timber production. The use value of a forest as a forest is actually greater than its exchange value for timber, because of the various possibilities that forests provide economically. Though economic theory often posits that forest valuation for aesthetics occurs only among high-income populations, there is evidence that forests are not simply a luxury good, and that people can incorporate forests into their livelihood strategies. In this thesis, I analyzed the effects of tourism on exurban forest cover in Appalachia. I explored how human desire for outdoor recreation provides economic gain out of a forested setting in natural areas in proximity to a population center. In economically depressed areas with abundant natural surroundings, such as Appalachia, I examined if forested areas can provide a means of living to communities through tourism. I expected that people are found to enjoy forests for their value as an amenity benefit, and are willing to assign economic value in those regards. This led to tourism, by bringing people in to experience the natural surroundings. Appalachian exurban forest cover was found to most associated with the level of tourism in a county. Using data for percentage of forest cover versus economic indicators related to tourism, I explored the association of forestland to the tourism economy in Appalachia.