Economic Impact of the Wayne National Forest

Executive Summary

[Copied from a report prepared by the U.S. Forest Service]

The purpose of this report is to provide a concise summary of the statistics available pertaining to the economic impact of the Wayne National Forest on the 12 counties in Southeast Ohio which contain National Forest lands. As one of the largest holders of public land in the state of Ohio, the Wayne provides a variety of benefits to both the local communities surrounding the forest and the state as a whole. Some of those economic benefits include:

• More than $31 million spent by Forest visitors in the local economy.
• Nearly $5 million generated in state and local taxes, averaging more than $21 per acre.
• An area of 229,000 acres of public land in a sate which ranks 47th in public recreation land per capita.

Those benefits are in addition to the ecological benefits of a National Forest, which include:

• Reforestation of lands denuded by intensive farming, timbering and mining.
• Restoration of watersheds, including remediation of acid mine drainage.
• Habitat for a thriving wildlife population.

The Wayne also provides recreation opportunities for Ohioans, and all Americans, including:

• Bicycling
• Camping
• Fishing
• ORV-riding
• Swimming
• Birding
• Canoeing
• Horseback riding
• Plant collecting
• Trapping
• Boating
• Fall foliage viewing
• Hunting
• Rock climbing
• Wildlife watching

Most of the statistics contained in this report come from sources outside the Wayne National Forest. Sources are citied in the footnotes, and copies are available from the Wayne or the original source.

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