The Mecklenburg County Board's Natural Resources Committee has approved a plan to allow logging inside the County's nature preserves. The Land Use and Environmental Services Agency and Park and Recreation have teamed up to allow harvesting the loblolly pine forests in the Cowen's Ford, Latta Plantation, Rural Hill and Haymarket Nature Preserves. The harvesting of trees will protect native species and preserve natural ecological processes. Profits from selling the lumber will be used for the restoration and management of natural communities. The proposal may go to the full Board of County Commissioners for approval at its January 19 meeting.