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The U.S. Forest Service has unveiled a draft management plan that would allow logging on 700,000 acres of the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests.

Officials said Wednesday the plan is aimed at preserving the woods and restoring habitat diversity. The Forest Service of the Carolinas says, much like prescribed burning, harvesting timber is necessary to maintain a healthy forest.

However, area environmentalists say they’re stunned at the scope of what the draft plan would allow, saying it would leave dozens of popular natural and recreations spots unprotected.

“Someone sometime is going to make a decision to go into an area that is a landmine for the local population,” Biologist Josh Kelly said, with the WNC Alliance. “Some popular recreation area, or some important natural area that people love – and that’s going to cause a conflict.”

Environmentalists say they’d like to see the draft changed, to narrow down the areas that logging is allowed. The Forest Service said currently it harvests about 1,500 acres of mountain timber every year, and that number would likely remain roughly the same.

From WLOS 13 News: https://www.wlos.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/plan-would-open-700000-acres-logging-18493.shtml#.VGYvGYeJksR