Can I stop someone from logging? (attorney question)

[Gregorian]

The forest view out of my front windows is about to turn to a mountain of dirt and stumps. They're clearcutting it. There's no doubt about it, some people won't buy a property that looks out on a clearcut hill. This could directly affect any sale of my property. I need to know if there is anything I can do to either postpone or stop their cutting.

I already talked to the man with the chainsaw, and he seems totally oblivious to what he has done. (It's the same mentality that voted for Bush.) He has already clearcut much of this area. But now he is directly affecting my view and my potential sale.

I'm asking if there is some way that people can legally take a stand. Do I have to sit here and let these clowns destroy my property value?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. Nope.

If they own the land, they can pretty much do what they want to it. Affecting your property value isn't a valid concern in the eyes of the courts.

[Squatch]

2. Unless that land has been designated as a

special area like wetland, etc.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. Yep.

[flvegan]

4. I assume he has the logging rights or vested title to the property.

You can always try tree-sitting.

[radwriter0555]

5. Unless you local laws have "view" rights then you're powerless.

However, one option is to plant trees on your property, near the border, that will visually take the place of the ones he's cut down... if it would make a difference.

If not, then, there is nothing more you can concern yourself with.

And it's possible the potential new buyers really just won't care, especially if you don't mention it.

[ret5hd]

7. those aren't tree-trunks...

them's sittin' stools!

[Gregorian]

8. Thanks you guys.

Yes, I thought about the new owner part. Chances are pretty good that most people aren't half as concerned as I am. Dummies. But when people are paying a million dollars for a piece of property, I think they are the types of people who care.
There is no way to plant trees in this location. Actually I have trees. It's a looming mountainside in front of my place.

Sheesh, this could turn into a drawn out sociological discussion. Basically it turns out to how much money means. And whether the trees can be considered part of the atmosphere. I mean, making money off mother earth is like pimping one's parents. Ok, I better stop. This really is the age old drama of one who cares and one who doesn't.

[Squatch]

9. The golden rule...

he/she who has the gold makes the rules.

[Gregorian]

11. I love it-

My very first design class in college had a professor who told us that. I'll never forget it.

Here's my first law of economics/ethics/ecology, that I just came up with-

People will do anything for money.

[Squatch]

12. PT Barnum was a cornucopia of money-related quotes

"There's a sucker born every minute"

"Every crowd has a silver lining."

"Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant"

[FloridaPat]

6. Why not see if you can buy the property.

[Gregorian]

10. It's 4000 acres.

And a logging company just bought the 64 acres next to me, which also is going to be logged soon. They paid half a million. This is the problem- trees are worth way too much money. I've been doing this a long time. I got fooled this time. It looked like a nice stable area. I was wrong.