Factors determining local hunting lease rates, and differences between rates across Mississippi regions, were analyzed using Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition procedures. Per acre rates were 26% greater in west versus east Mississippi. Depending on the decomposition procedure employed, differences in...

The economic impact of wildlife-associated recreation in the Southeast United States was evaluated using a general equilibrium model. Exogenous demand shocks to the regional economy were based on estimates of expenditures by wildlife recreationists on hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching...

The economic feasibility of utilizing woody biomass to produce biofuel lies in the willingness to harvest by non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners, who control 71% of forestland in the southern United States. A mail survey was distributed to NIPF landowners throughout Mississippi to...

In the United States, the majority of publicly traded and vertically integrated forest firms with both manufacturing facilities and timberland holdings have either sold their timberlands to private investors, or converted their corporate structure into Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). In...

Hunting leases are impacting rural land values. Using land sales transactions in northern Mississippi, this study quantified how hunting lease income affects forestland value, while controlling for sale attributes, county attributes, and ecosystem differences. Estimation procedures included...

The forest products industry is an important component of local, state, regional, and national economies. Assessing the economic contributions of the forest products industry in the South, one of the leading timber producing region in the world, is crucial. Impact Analysis for Planning (IMPLAN),...

Hunting, fishing and wildlife-associated recreation expenditures have played an important role in the U.S economy and help promote conservation and environmental goals. The 2006 U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) survey reported 87.5 million people aged 16 and above participated in...

Despite the fact that earnings associated with selling hunting leases could significantly contribute to landowners' incomes, only a small minority of them allow access on their lands for a fee. Based on a sample survey of Mississippi state landowners, we analyzed landowners' willingness to...

Determining appropriate topics and target audiences is essential to design effective educational outreach programs. Based on landowner responses to a mail survey, we determined both the importance and the availability of wildlife and forest management information topics to Mississippi...