The Nature Conservancy, one of the world’s largest environmental groups, has purchased 161,000 acres of prized land in the Adirondacks for $110-million, but to preserve it, the group will allow logging, which has drawn criticism in some quarters, reports The New York Times.

The 161,000 acres of land was purchased from Finch, Pruyn & Company, a timber business. As part of the acquisition, the conservancy agreed to continue logging to supply wood to the Finch Paper mill in Glens Falls, N.Y., for the next 20 years.

Anonymous foresters quoted by the newspaper say the conservancy may cut at least 65,000 tons of pulpwood trees per year for the mill. Additional varieties of trees may also be cut. Furthermore, to pay off debt and high property taxes, the conservancy will, in the near term, sell off land to private owners.

Michael T. Carr, executive director of the Adirondack chapter of the Nature Conservancy, says, “Right now, people are not sure if we’re going to cut trees or hug them.”

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