FYI - Trees grow rather slowly. Softwoods(doug fir/pine etc.) grow qiucker than hardwood(oak & exotics). From seedling to mature tree(softwoods) is 20 - 25 years - and thats for harvest thru controlled management. The idea that VZ is looking at reforestation in the mining areas NOW is just dumb. 30 - 40 years of mining gold, copper etc. and then replanting is 65 yrs away from happening. Is Chavez, Sanz or even our darling Ortega concerned? As has been said this is about infighting within the VZ govt. and Ortega was hearing footsteps, big ones of Sanz and decided to stir the pot with her hubbyVP as the trump card. IMO we have not heard a retort from Sanz about Ortega's 4/30/08 craziness becuz of the trump card - hubby. And as RM stated she's overdue for replacement and she doesn't want to go home and bake cookies - that's beneath her even though it appears she eats more than her share.