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The National Park Service (NPS) serves to preserve and protect important natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment of current and future generations. The NPS manages 433 individual units, covering prominent recreation sites like national parks, recreation areas, and seashores, as well as culturally and historically important sites like national monuments, historical parks, and battlefields. Collectively, these sites generate tremendous economic value to the American public. However, quantifying that value can be challenging, especially because public lands are typically not associated with standard market prices. 

FORT economists are partnering with the NPS to estimate the economic values generated by 100+ NPS recreation sites across the United States. Example questions of interest include the following:

1. What is the demand for recreational trips to NPS sites?
2. What is the economic value (i.e., "consumer surplus") generated by those trips?
3. How do site and visitor characteristics influence demand and value?
4. How are changes in costs, like entrance fees, predicted to affect recreation demand?
5. How do certain types of activities, like wildlife viewing, influence demand and value?

USGS economists contribute their recreation demand modeling and statistical analysis skills to the project, using state-of-the-art valuation approaches that advance the capacity to estimate benefits from Federal public lands. The research lays the foundation for improved planning, budget formulation, management, policy analysis, and public outreach related to NPS sites.