7,000 acres of East Texas forest shielded from development, but some logging will continue
About 7,000 acres of forest along what's called Texas' last wild river are now permanently off limits to development, the Texas A&M Forest Service announced Friday.
The agency collaborated with The Conservation Fund to obtain a conservation easement on the property, which will keep it a working forest. Harvesting timber is still allowed, but sustainable forestry practices must be followed.
The land, known as Bobcat Ridge, is in East Texas along the Neches River near Palestine. The conservation of this acreage will nearly double the amount of protected land within the boundaries of the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge.
"The forested wetland habitat now permanently protected at Bobcat Ridge was deemed a top-tier 'Priority 1 Site' by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," said Julie Shackelford, Texas programs director for The Conservation Fund, in a written statement. "Many of these Priority 1 sites in Texas have been flooded or developed in the last 30 years. Being able to protect this habitat is a real victory."
Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/environment/2016/10/28/7000-acres-east-texas-forest-shielded-development-logging-will-continue