Canadian Forest Service Publications
Estimating impacts of resource management policies in the Foothills Model Forest. 2003. Patriquin, M.N.; Alavalapati, J.R.R.; Wellstead, A.M.; Young, S.M.; Adamowicz, W.L.; White, W.A. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 33(1): 147-155.
Year: 2003
Issued by: Northern Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 26889
Language: English
Availability: Order paper copy (free), PDF (request by e-mail)
Abstract
This study examines the economic impact of policy changes in a forested region of the province of Alberta known as the Foothills Model Forest (FMF). The effects of policy changes in various sectors are analyzed in terms of all sectors of the regional economy with particular emphasis on the forestry sector. Unlike most analyses of regional policies, this study uses a computable general equilibrium (CGE) framework rather than a fixed-price framework to analyze economy-wide impacts of land use or forest policy changes. The application of this technique on a regional scale is rare in the scientific literature. Model results indicate that a decrease in forestry output somewhat offsets the positive economic impact generated by increased visitor activity. Failure to consider these trade-off impacts in the analysis will result in erroneous conclusions. The outcomes from three timely policy scenarios are examined in this paper. The results from the CGE framework suggest that policy makers face a greater degree of complexity than in current economic impact frameworks.