Today an excellent feature regarding development pressures in the west appeared in the New York Times. The feature outlines how environmentalists and loggers are teaming up to protect private lands from developers that are carving out huge exclusive ranch properties.
Plum Creek, one of the largest private land owners that was formerly simply a timber company has now changed its business model to become a real estate investment trust. Some of the land they bought for less than $500 an acre for timber is now worth $29,000 an acre for homes and recreation.
A good number of conservation sales are taking place to the Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Lands, but deep pockets are carving out huge tracts close to public lands. Environmentalists and the forest service are realizing the importance of timber companies to keep a sustainable balance. With more homes going in next to public lands, the need to manage those lands and thin trees for wildfire protection become more important as the cost of possible devastation increases based on development.
It’s clear that a sustainable approach is needed that balances recreation, logging, the environment, land access and local economies. Read the New York Times article here (free subscription required).
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It really is all about personal responsibility, at least mostly. If one buys land, then build on it and maintain it in the most environmental friendly way possible.
As for forest fires, it’s the West. It comes with the territory. If someone moves there and doesn’t realize that, they have other problems. It also leads back to personal responsibility. Don’t move there if one doesn’t want to accept the risks of living in that type of environment. Also take the necessary precautions around their house and/or build a house which is suitable for that type of environment.
It never fails to frost me, when I go to Montana and hear people complain about fires, they are a natural process out there. Another is when people complain about certain types of wildlife, like bears and wolves. Hello, it’s their habitat too.
I personally don’t have a problem with land going to private individuals so long as they don’t turn the property or properties into something similar to what they left behind. Like endless housing developments, road after road, non-native plantings, one small home instead of a mansion with guest quarters, parking lots galore, so on and so forth.
Big Sky, MT is being killed by rampant development. Well, killed from the stand point, it’s just another town with endless houses and the other supporting development(stores and the like). And on top of that, long time residents are finding it harder and harder to afford to live in the community. They can’t compete with all the “outside” money.
People, more times than not, seem to ruin a good thing going for them.
Nice blog and topics.
KoS