Often, logging on public land is seen as completely negative, but there can be positives to it as well.  The Brushy Ridge timber project is an example of this.  The Brushy Ridge Project will involve the logging of 433 acres of land in Pisgah National Forest over the next three years, beginning with a 64 acre tract in the Trace Ridge area of Henderson County.

This logging project will cause some problems, namely that a section of the popular North Mills River Recreation Area will be closed to the public while logging is ongoing.  This is a multi-use area used by hikers, mountain bikers, anglers, and horse riders, both by the local community and tourists from other areas (even non-North Carolina residents).  Closure is expected to only last a few months, but those months are in the spring and early summer, a popular season for activity in the area.  There are other nearby trails and recreation areas available to the local community, but the flow of users from outside the local community will decrease, which could somewhat affect the local economy.

However, logging is expected to bring about some positive externalities as well.  Old logging roads are often converted to hiking and biking trails, which could increase recreational access to other areas of the forest.  In an area of high recreational usage, this could be a huge benefit over the long term.  Also, the logging project will be undertaken to restore the ecosystem to a more natural state.  The area that is being logged largely consists of white pine monocultures that had been planted long ago for the purpose of harvesting later, and most of these white pines will be taken out.  Some mature trees will be left, however, and both these mature trees and the trees that will be planted afterward will be in a more heterogeneous mixture to restore the mixed oak forests that once dominated the landscape.  American chestnuts will also be reintroduced to the area.