The aesthetic and ecological benefits of preserving wilderness and establishing parks
have been acknowledged for over a century, yet rarely quantified. In contrast, the
opportunity costs of foregoing devel-opment options are frequently known and large. Developing nations, striving to increase the well-being of their citizens, find it
difficult to forego concrete development options in favor of preservation with its more elusively measured benefits. To address this imbalance, it is critical to begin economic valuation of the benefits of preserving natural habitats in developingnations. High on this list is determining the economic value of conserving primary rain forests.