Land Rush in the South

"Giant timber companies are selling forest land as they try to cut costs to offset mergers and operational changes....In areas such as north Georgia, where land values are hopping, taxes are making it too expensive for corporations to hold on to their forests....The U.S. Forest Service estimates that 12 million acres of southern forest land -- an area equal to about two-thirds of South Carolina -- will be developed during the next 20 years. Forestry experts say ownership changes will hurt wildlife and the environment by dividing whole forests among developers." However, some conservationists see the land rush as an opportunity to allocate "thousands of acres of green space for permanent protection in the South. But the problem lies in the fact that many states are struggling with tight budgets and have little money for land purchases."

Thanks to Connie Chung