Natural History Wanderings

National Forests are an economic boom to local economies

California’s national forests added $2 billion dollars to local economies and helped support an estimated 38,000 jobs in 2010.
California National forests had almost nearly 30 million visitors in 2010.

On a national level according to the U.S. Forest Service’s National Visitor Use Monitoring Report:

· Recreation activities on National Forests and Grasslands sustain 223,000 jobs in the rural communities within 50 miles of the national forests and grasslands, where visitors purchase goods and services for their recreational activity.

· Visitors spend $13 billion directly in those communities within 50 miles of the national forests and grasslands.

· Visitor satisfaction is very high, with an overall satisfaction rate of 94 percent.

· Approximately 83 percent of visitors are content with the value received for any fees paid.

· Nearly 95 million visitors (over 55 percent) come to a forest to primarily engage in physical activity.

Read more at  Yuba Net: National Forests in California provide benefit to local economies.