Ri-viKws 673 



Lentil about 40 years ago the State forests did not show any net 

 profit. Before that time the operations in them had been conducted 

 with heavy losses, (hie partly to unsatisfactory conditions for the selling 

 of logs. 



It is important to consider the laws regulating and restricting cutting 

 of timber in Finland, because these restrictions will materially afifect 

 the nation's future output of timber. A short summary is therefore 

 given of the law eflfective from January ], 1918, bearing on the man- 

 agement of the forests. 



The new law is similar to the Swedish so-called "young-forest law" 

 and is based on the principle of compulsory reforestation. Paragraph 1 

 of the law reads as follows : "Young productive forests must not be 

 cut unless such cutting is conducted in conformity with the principles 

 of rational thinning. The forest floor must not be left in such condi- 

 tion after the cutting as to impair the possibilities of the natural repro- 

 duction of the forest." 



As conditions for artificial reproduction (planting and seeding) at 

 times are unfavorable in Finland, the law especially stipulates that the 

 forests must not be cut in such a way that the possibilities for natural 

 reproduction will be impaired in any way. Of course, the law can not 

 give definite stipulations regarding how the forests are to be cut in 

 each section of the country. This matter is to be decided by local 

 authorities. The law will, it is hoped, check the practice of cutting 

 down young trees without regard to the rules of rational forestry. 



The law makes several exceptions from the stipulations laid down 

 in paragraph 1. Young forests may be cut clean if the cut-over land 

 is intended for agricultural purposes or for building, etc. Young 

 forests may also be cut if the timber is being used for the personal 

 needs of the owner, such as for firewood, building material, etc., but 

 such cutting must always be conducted with due regard to the natural 

 reproduction of the forests. 



In order to carry on a plan of intensive forestry, it is often necessary 

 for the forest owner to cut his timber with less restriction then laid 

 down in paragraph 1. It was not the intention of the law to prevent 

 such intensive exploitation of the forests, and if the forest owner can 

 submit a detailed plan of the intended cutting, extending through a cer- 

 tain period of time, and have this plan approved by a local officer ap- 

 pointed for th's purpose, certain modifications of the law's provisions 

 may be granted, provided the forest owner can offer the necessary 



