Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Spring 2020
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Cultural and Environmental Resource Management
Committee Chair
Toni Sipic
Second Committee Member
Charles Wassell
Third Committee Member
Jennifer Lipton
Abstract
Washington State receives timber contributions from 34 out of its 39 counties, making it a top producer of timber in the United States. Because of the widespread and abundant number of harvests, many forests that society values are affected via diminished aesthetic appeal. Of these affected areas are Washington State Parks and the areas around them. This study seeks to estimate the economic impact that forest harvest practices have on the visitation of Washington State Parks. Through the use of GIS and fixed effect regression analysis, I estimate the impact that over 100,000 permitted forest cuts have on the visitation of 142 Washington State Parks and find statistically significant negative impacts of both even and uneven timber cutting methods. This study will benefit forest and park managers by evaluating forest harvest techniques with respect to recreation and hopes to inform the policy makers working to ensure the sustainability and prosperity of our Washington State Park System.
Recommended Citation
Humphries, Tyler, "The Economic Impact of Forest Harvest Practices on Washington State Park Visitation" (2020). All Master's Theses. 1367.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1367
Included in
Agricultural and Resource Economics Commons, Econometrics Commons, Nature and Society Relations Commons, Other Economics Commons