Non-market valuation of forest park using travel cost method (case study: Saravan forest park, north of Iran)

The aim of this research was to evaluate the non-market products of a forest park in north of Iran. Required socio-economics data were collected using questionnaires. Travel cost method was used to estimate the economics and recreational values. Regression analysis was used to estimate some socio-economics variables on behavior of forest park visitors. The economics and recreational values of forest park calculated via the demand function. The results of regression analysis showed that the variables such as required time to access the site, travel cost, monthly income, age and education effect on visiting people to the forest park. The results showed that there is a linear relation between required time to access the park and number of visitors. The results indicated that there is a polynomial relation between the number of visitors and the travel cost. The results of regression analysis showed that there is a third degree polynomial relation between the number of visitors and income. Furthermore, the results of demand function showed that the daily value of recreational site or consumer surplus is 68319800 Iranian Rials. The results of this study can be a powerful tool to improve the quality of environmental services and expand service and infrastructure quality of the study area.