News & Observer – Point of View
by Robert D. Brown
February 6, 2010
"Haiti is in dire need of housing. Due to a lack of forest materials, the Haitians constructed houses with bricks and concrete blocks, materials that are difficult to make earthquake resistant and require lots of energy to produce. Earthquake damage in Haiti was exacerbated by poor quality construction and the lack of construction codes.
Meanwhile, our state is blessed with abundant forest resources. Almost 60 percent of North Carolina is forested, and the forest products industry is the largest manufacturing industry in the state. Using our forest industry can help Haiti recover and assist tens of thousands of private landowners who own and manage timber."
How can North Carolina make a difference in Haiti, while simultaneously helping the state's economy and environment?
Read the full text of NC State College of Natural Resources Dean Robert Brown's editorial in the Saturday, February 6, 2010 issue of the News & Observer.