Concerns Raised Over Plan to Sell Forest Land

State Conservation Department officials are raising concerns about a plan by the federal government to sell 21,000 acres of the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri. The money raised would go toward funding some rural schools, but none in this state. State Forester Lisa Allen says the health of Missouri’s forests can be dependant on the condition of the adjacent federal forests. Allen says the Conservation Commission plans to draft a letter protesting the sale at its next meeting in April. A similar letter from Governor Matt Blunt’s office sent a week ago has not received any response.