[Travis McGee]

If we do suffer a terrorist arson attack super firestorm, you can bet that a national firebreak system will become a priority very fast.

The 10% given up to the spacing can be leased for farmland, parks, etc.

[RightWhale]

The work could be contracted out to lumber companies and paper mills. It shouldn't be a problem to finance, and the open spaces could be used in a variety of ways, like you said. A lot of people would want to live there, too, if they can get homestead grants. Hunting would be good.