Preface

What is the value of sitting under a forest tree’s shade, and enjoying a cool drink of water or lunch? What is the value of a vista of a pristine grove of conifers or a stand of hardwood trees in full autumn colour? And how do we place a value on wildlife habitat; protection from floods, landslides, avalanches; and perhaps most important of all, clean water, air and climate? Our forests provide many critical services to humanity. We have long valued the forest for things that have very tangible monetary worth, such as wood and wood products, but we have not been able to demonstrate and capture the values of its services that are difficult to measure or even priceless.

Related Subject(s): Environment and Climate Change