Hedonic Valuation of Forested Riparian Buffers Along Rivers in Northwestern North Carolina

This revealed preference study estimates the implicit value associated with owning a home along a river and tree coverage of riparian areas along rivers. The setting of this study is Ashe and Watauga Counties in Northwestern North Carolina and the two rivers that flow through those counties: New River and Watauga River. House sales form the basis of the hedonic models used to value these environmental characteristics. Homes that border a river sell for at least $28,000 more than otherwise similar homes that do not border a river. Riparian area tree coverage positively impacts river-bordering house prices, but only to a certain point. The results of this study are important for environmental organizations in this region working to safeguard the New and Watauga Rivers through riparian buffer installation and protection.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agricultural and Applied Economics

Department dc:contributor.department

Agricultural and Applied Economics

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Vannoy, Mallory Drew

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Boyle, Kevin J.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Stephenson, Stephen Kurt
• Sorice, Michael G.

• revealed preference
• value
• environmental economics
• riparian buffers
• natural amenity
• hedonic
• Appalachia

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:30141

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/112645