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chemicals and drugs have been discovered as a result of <br />experimentation with peatland plants. Personal enrichment occurs <br />when individuals are able to learn about the nature and <br />mechanisms present in a peatland environment. The Nature <br />Conservancy, which considers one of its goals education, is <br />currently negotiating the purchase of over 1000 acres of peatland <br />in South Park. A nature education center or advanced scientific <br />study could one day be a part of that site. <br />The experiential value of peatlands may be "ethical, <br />spiritual, physical, aesthetic, or recreational" (Windell et al. <br />1986). The experiences available may be consumptive (hunting and <br />fishing and trapping) or non - consumptive (photography, bird <br />watching, nature study). The diversity on the landscape which <br />many peatlands provide is an important factor in the sense of <br />renewal that can be achieved when one leaves the city and spends <br />time amongst nature. The presence of such areas within easy <br />driving distance to the metropolitan Front Range is an attribute <br />that is likely to become even more valuable as the population of <br />that region increases. <br />The non - market values of peatland areas are varied and <br />certainly variable from site to site. They are difficult to <br />quantify since established markets for the goods and services <br />they represent do not exist. Developing an estimate of non - <br />market values from peatlands was beyond the scope of this study. <br />However, in the interest of accurate accounting, be considered <br />when making decisions that have the potential to deplete or <br />w59 <br />