Certainly its non-timber value is worth many times this amount. Our State Forests should not be viewed or used as cash cows. This money will be used for improvements on State Forests and other minor firefighting expenses. State Forest timber sales should not be used to fund any government functions. The fact that the very agency that decides if and how much timber will be harvested, gets to keep the revenues from those harvests, is indication enough that the management and planning system is less than objective.
Trees dying is a natural, essential stage in the life cycle of a forest.
These trees nurture animals by providing cavities and hollows and the next generation by returning organic matter to the soil. On another note, returning organic matter to the soil is important, but one must consider the fact that the bole of the tree is removed and all other parts are left to return nutrients to the soil. There are numerous reasons to protect natural forests beyond their obvious usefulness as carbon sinks. The true value of old growth and natural forests may be beyond estimate, however, here are some of its values. Aldo Leopold was one of the earliest individuals to point out the value of such places.