Economic valuation of acid deposition induced changes in the productivity of commercial forests

Conference · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6925268

Callaway, Jr, J M

Several recent studies have reported localized decreases in the growth of several commercially important forest species in the northeast United States. These observed reductions in basal area growth may be related to increases in acid deposition and other man-made pollutants over the last two or three decades. If this is the case, then increases in region-wide levels of acid deposition may have effects on the biomass content and age-species composition of the regional timber inventory. These physical changes can influence regional stumpage prices and harvest levels through changes in the marginal cost of harvesting timber as a product and through changes in the opportunity cost of holding timber as an asset. Resultant changes in the profits earned by timber owners and the buyers of stumpage can be used to attach monetary value to the effects of acid deposition on the timber resource base. The objective of this study is to develop a capability to value acid deposition-induced changes in the productivity of commercial timberland in the northeast United States. Simulations will be conducted to determine the effects of acid deposition-induced changes in species growth rates on the profits earned by timber owners and buyers in relevant stumpage markets. The sensitivity of these results to different rates of return to private owners, alternative management practices, and to the levels of exogenous variables which influence the demand for stumpage will be assessed. 8 references.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6925268
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-11979; CONF-840269-7; ON: DE84010701
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
ACID RAIN
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
FORESTRY
GROWTH
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
PROFITS
RAIN
TREES