After having The Lorax read to us, it is easy to conclude that cutting down trees is morally wrong. However, continues to be the largest cash crop in South Carolina as well as a potentially “green” source of energy. Economic benefits of timber harvest include profit to both the owner and the dealer of the wood, wages to those in the industry, income to other dependent industries, and income from forestry taxes. Though logging poses serious ecological threats, such as soil degradation and decreased biodiversity, there is an undeniable profit to be had from harvesting forests.
Ninety percent of the forests in South Carolina are privately owned. With only twenty-two percent of these controlled by industry, the vast majority of this resource is owned by citizens. This complicates resource management because landowners may not be educated about sustainable practices. However, landowners may have a higher incentive to maintain their forest if it is solely their property.
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In reference to ethnic minority groups, studies have shown that landownership has a profound, positive impact on African-American communities. Landownership stimulates economic investment and increases the likelihood of civic activity and political participation. One study reports that African American forest owners have more tenure than other owners. In fact, 31% of African-American owners in Alabama in 2008 had had their property for at least 25 years. Long-term investment in such a resource greatly increases the probability for sustainable management. The threat to ethnic minority groups in regards to forestry is that such groups may be undercut for their share in both management and profit.