Non-Use Value

Non-use value refers to the worth people assign to natural resources or environments even if they never directly use or visit them. For example, knowing a scenic national park exists provides a sense of pride or moral satisfaction, even if you never go there. This includes values like existence value (caring that something exists), bequest value (preserving it for future generations), and altruistic value (helping others enjoy it). Non-use value recognizes that the environment has intrinsic worth beyond practical or recreational use, highlighting its importance for emotional, cultural, or ethical reasons.