| Coalition Purchases 33,000 Acres
of Texas Forest
(Quote from USFWS spokesman: "The Middle Neches River site is one of the most important 'acquisition projects' to be accomplished in recent years." Does that sound like 'sustainable forestry' will be happening for long? Nope.) July 8, 2003 Austin, Texas (ENS) - The Conservation Fund has joined forces with private forest investment firm Renewable Resources, LLC, to acquire some 33,000 acres of working Texas forestland from International Paper. The organizations say their strategy for 'acquisition and conservation' will allow continued economic benefits through sustainable forestry while permanently 'protecting the land' and helping combat the high rate of forestland fragmentation. "With millions of acres of important forestland coming on the market and increasing pressure from a growing population, Texas and the nation as a whole, is at a crossroads," said Larry Selzer, president of The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit organization. "Thanks to the leadership of International Paper and Renewable Resources, we are creating solutions that maintain economic stability and at the same time, address the issues of loss of open space and habitat connectivity in east Texas." The Conservation Fund worked with a group of partners including Renewable Resources, Houston Endowment, The Meadows Foundation, and the T.L.L. Temple Foundation to raise the funds necessary to acquire the Middle Neches tract, valued at more than $26 million. The property, located along the Neches River, near Lufkin, Texas, connects Davy Crockett and Angelina National Forests and is considered by conservationists and members of the forestry sector to be of high value for both wood production and wildlife habitat. "The Middle Neches River site is one of the most important 'acquisition projects' to be accomplished in recent years, said Jim Neal, West Gulf Coastal Plain Initiative coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "It is crucial to the long-term survival of a nationally significant, threatened river system." As part of the agreement with Renewable Resources, the forestland will be managed in a sustainable fashion and maintained as a natural hardwood forest until the property can be turned over to public ownership. Forestry operations will meet or exceed all requirements of the American Forest & Paper Association's Sustainable Forestry Initiative program and all Texas Best Management Practices for forestlands to ensure protection of 'critical habitat' including 'imperiled aquatic resources.' "The Middle Neches tract contains some of the highest quality forestlands in the south," said Bob Saul of Renewable Resources. "Sustainable forestry ensures the land will continue to provide lasting benefits to our investors, the local community and the environment." |