"California and Chinese Billionaires Acquire Vast Oregon Timberland Holdings"
A Chinese billionaire and a California timber family have become among the largest private landowners in the U.S. following major purchases of Oregon forests, with Sierra Pacific Industries’ acquisition making the Redding, California based Emmerson Family the largest private landowner in the U.S. The Land Report found that Chinese businessman Tianqiao Chen is the second largest foreign owner of U.S. land with nearly 200,000 acres in Oregon, drawing concern from U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer over his membership in the Chinese Communist Party. Foreigners own more than 43 million acres of agricultural land in the U.S., with Chinese owners making up less than 1% of foreign-owned acreage.