Both sides agree: New Jersey's sprawling public and private forests face serious challenges and must be better managed.
The woodlands are under attack from insects, disease, invasive plant species, fires, and herds of deer feeding on new growth.
But conservationists, ecologists, certified foresters, scientists, and politicians don't agree on how to address the problems.
They are on both sides of a controversial state legislative measure - likely to be voted on in Trenton next month - that would inventory the woodlands and permit commercial tree-cutting on public land as well as the sale of wood as a way of paying for the program.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would choose a contractor to oversee the effort for five years, plan the logging, and get the best price for timber. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Bob Smith (D., Middlesex-Somerset) affects New Jersey's Highlands, not the Pinelands.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20111227_Seeking_common_ground_on_N_J__forests.html
The woodlands are under attack from insects, disease, invasive plant species, fires, and herds of deer feeding on new growth.
But conservationists, ecologists, certified foresters, scientists, and politicians don't agree on how to address the problems.
They are on both sides of a controversial state legislative measure - likely to be voted on in Trenton next month - that would inventory the woodlands and permit commercial tree-cutting on public land as well as the sale of wood as a way of paying for the program.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would choose a contractor to oversee the effort for five years, plan the logging, and get the best price for timber. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Bob Smith (D., Middlesex-Somerset) affects New Jersey's Highlands, not the Pinelands.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20111227_Seeking_common_ground_on_N_J__forests.html