Fred Cubbage: Protect Hofmann Forest

Regarding the Sept. 4 Point of View “ Let the state buy Hofmann Forest”: Thanks to former Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker. Until the very day the secret Hofmann sale was announced, the NR Foundation and NCSU leaders always said the forest would remain a working forest, as it still should. In fact, Meeker is proposing basically what the university leaders said they would do until they announced a complete sale.

So let’s take Meeker’s recommendation, hold the university to its promises, have NCSU show that it practices the sustainability it preaches so falsely and help restore its integrity. Actions speak louder than words.

The chancellor, University Endowment Fund, and NR Foundation should stop the sale and facilitate placing conservation easements on the Hofmann Forest. Meeker and thousands of North Carolina residents agree.

NCSU leaders and the NR Foundation always have said that they would protect the Hofmann Forest, and they should. And they can. They only need to stop the sale and pursue working forest and military conservation easements, perhaps supplemented by state funds.

Let’s all do this together. Teach what we believe; practice what we teach.

Fred Cubbage

Professor of Forestry, N.C. State University, Apex

This story was originally published September 8, 2014 at 5:45 PM with the headline "Fred Cubbage: Protect Hofmann Forest."