USA: Poorly planned development is or is not the biggest threat to forests?

Note: Wuernther makes a great argument for housing not being the issue
in: It’s illogical to argue that Industrial logging is a lesser more
necessary evil than subdivisions

Some experts say poorly planned developments are the biggest threat to
trees in this country. Patches of single family homes now sit where
oak and hickory forests once stood. Deforestation in the U.S. has
stabilized over the last 50 years. Many forests are now protected and
experts are using new planting techniques. Another problem with
deforestation and urban development is storm water runoff.

The
blacktop jungle has very little ability to absorb water. That is until
now. Universities around the country are experimenting with innovative
parking lots, landscape architecture, and green rooftops.
Deforestation is still a major concern world-wide. But the U.S. Is
trying to come up with ways to stem the tide. You can make a
difference when you buy your next home. Environmentalists suggest
buying an existing property instead of new construction. The United
States has lost a quarter of its forests since the 1600s.
http://myhighplains.com/content/fulltext/?cid=32871

— Posted to http://forestpolicyresearch.com via gmail to posterous and
also to forestpolicyresearch@yahoogroups.com

Posted via email from Deane’s posterous