MeadWestvaco proposal would blend development, conservation

[ South Carolina ] MeadWestvaco wants a national park-sized area of forests near Charleston developed into what it calls an environmentally friendly community. MeadWestvaco executives said they want to provide a model development in the 72,000-acre area, east of the Edisto River , that combats sprawl in the booming Charleston area. Some of the land would be developed. Other parts — the size now unknown — would be preserved. The idea is to cluster new homes, schools, shops and other amenities together. The company didn’t say how much of its remaining 320,000 S.C. acres would be sold, developed or preserved. However, it said some of that land would be sold over the coming decades. What happens to the 72,000-acre tract is important because of its size — three times bigger than Congaree National Park in Lower Richland — and its location near the rapidly growing coast. The area is a buffer between Charleston and the acclaimed ACE Basin nature preserve.

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