GREED MAKES CENTS
The Forest
Service would do well to emulate state and county timber-sales
practices, according to a report released by the Political Economy
Research Center, a think tank advocating free-market responses to
environmental problems. Turning a Profit on Public Forests compares
the economic and environmental performance of national forests and
state and county forests in Montana and Minnesota. In Montana, the
Forest Service lost $42 million on timber sales between 1988 and
1992, while sales on state lands made $13.3 million. Author Donald
Leal cites watershed studies as evidence that the state took better
care of the land, too. The 26-page study concludes that state and
county timber operations are more efficient than their federal
counterparts because they are required to maximize profits. For a
copy of the report, contact PERC, 502 South 19th Ave., Suite 211,
Bozeman MT 59715 (406/587-9591).
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Greed makes cents.
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