Adirondacks Land Deal

IT applauds the Nature Conservancy for recently purchasing the last big piece of privately owned timberland in the Adirondacks. The $110 million transaction not only protects 161,000 acres of pristine wilderness from future development, but involves a working forest agreement with the local paper mill, a century-old institution that employs 850 people.

The agreement, which allows selective tree cutting to continue for 20 years, proves that preserving open spaces does not have to compromise local ways of life. And, had the conservation group not intervened, the tract would probably have been split up or sold for development, ruining its largely unspoiled forests, mountains, lakes, rivers, gorges, and bogs.

What’s more, the Nature Conservancy will pay local property taxes on the land, renew annual recreational leases to hunting clubs and other organizations who have historically used the land, and manage the area until the state or other benefactor can take over. IT’s thoughts? How’s that for sustainability!