Intrinsic Ecosystem Values

In addition to yielding products like timber, wildlife, and fish, which are bought and sold often enough to recognized dollar values, forests have attributes that are highly prized even though people are not accustomed to paying for them. A lack of markets does not make these intrinisic values less important than commodity values. In fact, many would argue that they are more important. This section describes four forest resources with important intrinsic values: old-growth forests, wilderness and roadless areas, biodiversity, and aesthetics. Nonmarket values of the type described here can be classified as either active or passive. The term "active-use value" applies to goods and services used in some activity like recreational fishing, skiing, or camping. The term "passive-use value" includes two categories (Peterson and Sorg 1987, Randall 1992): "existence values," which are things people appreciate without actually using them or even intending to use them (like a distant wilderness or an endangered plant or animal), and "bequest values," which are things people want to remain available for others (such as their descendants) to use and appreciate.