The Economic Benefits of Wilderness
The 1964 Wilderness Act (Section 4b) recognizes the multiple benefits of wilderness areas: "wilderness areas shall be devoted to the public purposes of recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical uses." While the act provides a basic framework of
wilderness uses, it does not begin to enumerate all of the uses and benefits of wilderness areas (Driver and others 1987; Rolston 1986; Reed 1989). This paper attempts to summarize these benefits and uses based on a total economic valuation framework.
