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ment. Also a threat to the woodlands is disease. With the spread of Dutch <br />elm and oak wilt to many of the woodlands, communities should consider the <br />need for a special replanting effort along the river. <br /> <br />Consumer preference and ease of design have lead to the practTce of clear <br />cutting and leveling sites for home construction. Most developers prefer <br />a flat, clean site for housing development since it provides ease in design <br />and construction of streets and public utilities. Buyer preference dictates <br />a development pattern of detached, single family homes requiring more land <br />per living unit than other housing alternatives such as cluster development. <br /> <br />The concern for protecting woodlands extends beyond the recreational and <br />aesthetic benefits. Woodlands moderate climatic conditions, such as high <br />winds and flooding, and thereby assist in protection of the watershed from <br />siltation and erosion. In addition, the ground within a woodland area can <br />act as a filter to recharge groundwater reservoirs. The trees act as a natural <br />air filter, absorbing some air pollutants. Woodlands moderate temperature <br />extremes. <br /> <br />Total preservation of woodlands or forests may not be desired, or in the best <br />public interest. However, a choice need not be made between total preservation <br />or nothing at all. Preservation of existing mature trees within developed <br />areas can be accomplished by requiring a permit for removal. In existing wood- <br />land areas, where it is desirable to preserve as much of the woodland ecology <br />as possible, cluster development should be encouraged and plats designed to <br />minimize tree removal. <br /> <br /> <br />