|
|
- Info
Opportunity costs of preserving coastal wetlands: A case study of a recreational housing development
| Author: |
Batie, Sandra S.; Mabbs-Zeno, Arl C. |
| Date: |
1985 |
| Periodical: |
Land Economics |
| Abstract: |
This article presents a case study of the development value of converting coastal wetlands into recreational housing lots at Captain’s Cove subdivision on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The development value estimates are valid measures of the opportunity cost of prohibiting recreational development in order to preserve Captain’s Cove wetlands. Such information can be a useful contribution to public decisions that must be made about protecting natural wetlands from conversion to others uses. For example, many coastal states and the federal government have policies to retain wetlands in their natural state. Most states that have wetlands programs base their wetlands management upon individual wetlands parcel permitting procedures. Because of this case-by-case nature of the permit programs, there is a use for economic value measurements of wetlands acres in altered and unaltered states. |
|
