For the last several years, a congressman from North Carolina, Charles Taylor, stood in the way of attempts to increase federal funding for conserving open space. But last November, Taylor lost his seat, the Republicans lost their majority, and now the nation should be able to look forward to a rejuvenated effort to protect forests, watersheds, and wildlife refuges threatened by development. Bush’s new budget includes less than $48 million for the conservation fund and Forest Legacy, down from $600 million in the last year of the Clinton administration. The new majority in Congress should begin rebuilding both the conservation fund and the Forest Legacy program.

News notes are courtesy of Southern Forests Network News Notes
www.southernsustainableforests.org