Abstract
This paper is based on the work of the Resource Assessment Commission, which was required by the Prime Minister to inquire into uses of Australia's forest and timber resources. It begins with a brief discussion of concepts of sustainable resource management and the guiding principles of the Commission. A description is given of the study area, its environment and forest resources. Sources of conflict in resource management are identified. The paper then explains how benefit-cost analysis techniques were applied to assess resource management options. The analysis undertaken was based on the Krutilla-Fisher model and contingent valuation of the forest resource.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blamey R, Common M (1993) Stepping back from contingent valuation. Paper presented at the 37th Annual Conference of the Australian Agricultural Economics Society, Sydney
Carter M (1992) The use of contingent valuation in the valuation of national estate forests in South-East Australia. In: De Lacy T, Lockwood M (eds) Valuing natural areas: applications and problems of the contingent valuation method. The Johnstone Centre of Parks, Recreation and Heritage, Charles Sturt University, Albury
Commonwealth of Australia (1992) National forest policy statement: a new focus for Australia's forests, Canberra
Ecologically sustainable development working groups (1991) Final report: forest use. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra
Knetsch JL (1990) Environmental policy implications of disparities between willingness to pay and compensation damaged measures of values. J Environ Econ Manag 188:227–237
Krutilla JV, Fisher AC (1975) The economics of natural environments: studies in the valuation of commodity and amenity resources. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore
Lindenmayer DB, Thomas VC, Lacey RC, Clark TW (1991) Population viability analysis (PVA): the concept and its applications with a case study of Leadbeater's possum, gymnobelideus Leadbeater McCoy. Consultancy Report to the Forest and Timber Inquiry, Resource Assessment Commission, Canberra
Mitchell RC, Carson RT (1989) Using surveys to value public goods. Resources for the Future, Washington DC
National Plantations Advisory Committee (1991) Integrating forestry and farming: commercial wood production on cleared agricultural land. Department of Primary Industries and Energy, Canberra
Possingham H, Noble I (1991) An evaluation of population viability analysis for assessing the risk of extinction, consultancy report to the forest and timber inquiry. Resource Assessment Commission, Canberra
Pindyck RS, Rubinfeld DL (1991) Econometric Models and Economic Forecasting, 3rd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York
Reark Research Pty Ltd (1992) Contingent valuation study of the south-east forests of Australia. Consultancy report to the forest and timber inquiry. Resource Assessment Commission, Canberra
Resource Assessment Commission (1992a) Forest and timber inquiry: final report, Vols 1, 2A and 3A. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra
Resource Assessment Commission (1992b) A survey of Australia's forest resource. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra
Routley R, Routley V (1975) The fight for the forests: the takeover of Australian forests for pines, woodchips and intensive forestry, 3rd edn. Australian National University Press, Canberra
Sinden JA, Worrell AC (1979) Unpriced values: decisions without market prices. Wiley Interscience, New York
Streeting M, Hamilton C (1991) An economic analysis of the forests of south-eastern Australia. Research Paper No. 5. Resource Assessment Commission, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra
Streeting M, Imber D (1991) The pricing of Australian woodchip exports. Research Paper No 4. Resource Assessment Commission. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
James, D. Application of environmental economics to sustainable management of the forests of South-East Australia. Ann Reg Sci 28, 77–89 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01581349
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01581349