yep , but you would THINK fire spells would also work, but they do not.

Thanks for sharing the tip.

Having a buiding like a wood lodge increasing materials but deforesting would be nice

Would be interesting if the fire got out of control from this.

Yup, tried again and it doesn't let me cast the spell.  I have the brownish square where I want to target.  I can raise and lower and create a mountain, but not blistering sands.

Stupid forests are impeding the growth of a couple of key cities and I am losing a influence war with two neighbors.  I am glad there is no city fliping ala Civ, but sheesh, I am losing resources and can't leave the areas because I am sorrounded. 

Sure.  I can build to a point.  If I do not have a neighboring forest or one that doesn't encapsulate my city, I can build everything through lvl 5 aka metropolis. But often, I am either blocked by a forest or a neighbor that might actually be more than 5 squares from me.  Another thing I noticed last night is that the growth can be weird sometimes resulting in dead spots within my walls that I can't build in.  I think I am going to have to tak a couple of screenshots and post them here.

  I have no idea why that doesn't work for you

If you can cast the greater raise mountain spell though just cast that in a forest square and then cast lower land on the new mountain. You should end up with a clear squre (hopefully).