The Value of Recreational Ecosystem Services in India

Forest ecosystem services have been a vital role in human well-being. Particularly, recreational ecosystem services are creating physical and mental well-well being of people. Therefore, the main objective of the paper is to estimate the economic value of recreational ecosystem services provided by two recreational sites such as Nandi Hills and Nagarhole National Park based on the Individual travel Cost Method in Karnataka, India. This study has used a random sampling method for 275 tourist visitors to recreational sites. The present study has also estimated the consumer surplus of the visitors. The result of the study has found that (i) economic value of two creational sites has estimated at the US $ 323.05 million, (ii) the consumer surplus has estimated for Nandi Hills at US$ 7.45 and Nagarhole National Park at US$ 3.16. The main implication of the study is to design the entry fees for the recreational site and sustainable utilization of recreational ecosystem services for the present and future generations.