This article, in today's New York Times, highlights an increasing problem of timber theft around the country. It highlights a landowner in Vermont who lost thirty or so of his best sugar maple trees, that were logged by his neighbor. The landowner was awarded $30,000 in a subsequent civil suit.
The article point out that many of the victims are elderly or poor and seldom get redress. Some species, such as black walnut, are so valuable that they have always been susceptible to timber theft. Experts aren't sure if the amount of theft is greater today, since many cases are never reported. With the high demand for American hardwood species around the world, land owners need to stay vigilant to protect their forests.
