Demonstrating the public value of extension forestry programming through benefit transfer analysis

Abstract

Cooperative Extension produces public value through educational programming that benefits the greatercommunity. Forests provide numerous valuable benefits to society through the provision of ecosystem services. Cooperative Extension educational programming positively affects forest owners, who, in turn, conduct actionsthat enhance ecosystem services. An understudied relationship exists between Cooperative Extension andecosystem services that can be drawn on to document Extension's public value. Applying ecosystem servicesvalues to Extension natural resources-related programmatic outcomes through benefit transfer provides anavenue through which Extension can potentially make significant advancements in monetizing its public value.