State should provide more incentives for family forests
[ North Carolina ] Both a state task force last year and the conservation group Environmental Defense this week have drawn similar conclusions about North Carolina ‘ s privately owned forests. These “family forests,” as some call them, are dwindling in the state ‘ s fastest-growing areas, depriving heavily populated areas of trees that absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, among other benefits. Environmental Defense has suggested way to do that in a new report. Based on conversations with private landowners who hope to preserve their land while still using it for traditional pursuits such as hunting and timber production, the report calls on state and local governments to develop ways that help landowners preserve their forests and preserve them from development.

Environmental Defense report: www.environmentaldefense.org/go/forests

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