ABSTRACT
The problem of natural areas, including wilderness, and seashores share certain similarities, chief among which is the fact that in each case private enterprise may not be the best suited to meet the wide variety of demands for the services these areas can provide. The costs of providing these services are covered to a considerable extent by fees levied upon the users, even though the management of the property is in the hands of a governmental unit. The destruction of wilderness imposes an external diseconomy on people whether they ever see the area or not. In comparison with other highly developed countries, the United States has a tremendous total acreage in wild land. The valuation problems may be present with many kinds of external benefits, whether they come from wilderness areas, city parks, birdlife, beaches, national parks, or beautiful urban environments. To some people the psychic satisfaction they derive from these areas forms a significant part of their real incomes.
