statement by the council regarding afforestation. 83 



2. Extent of State Afforestation. 



A preliminary point to settle is the extent of afforestation 

 which would be required. It would be quite possible to make 

 the country self-supporting in the matter of timber. The 

 reports of the Royal Commission and Departmental Committees 

 show that the amount of available land is more than sufficient 

 for the purpose ; while competent authorities assure us that our 

 soil and climate will produce every variety of timber in common 

 use, and of a quality equal to that which comes to us from 

 abroad. 



It would not be necessary, however, to make ourselves entirely 

 self-supporting. It would probably be sufficient to make such 

 an increase in our existing woodlands as would substantially 

 diminish the amount which we now pay annually for imported 

 timber, and enable us, in the event of another great war, to 

 carry on for three years without unduly depleting our home 

 supplies. To ensure this our present woodlands should be 

 increased by 2 million acres. The wooded area of the United 

 Kingdom is estimated at 3 million acres : it should be increased 

 to 5 million acres. 



The annual consumption of timber in the United Kingdom 

 before the war was about 650 million cubic feet. Of this amount 

 only about one-eighth was grown at home. Under an improved 

 system of silviculture the existing woodlands in the country 

 would yield fully twice their present output. The additional 

 2 million acres, scientifically managed, could be counted on to 

 yield 150 million cubic feet. We should thus obtain from 

 the afforested land in this country something over 300 million 

 cubic feet annually, or one-half the volume of present con- 

 sumption instead of only one-eighth. 



We do not say that an addition of 2 million acres to the area 

 now under timber would fully meet the needs of the country, 

 especially when we remember how the demand for timber has 

 steadily increased ; but we consider that this is the lowest figure 

 which should be aimed at in any scheme of national afforestation. 



3. Joint Action by State and Landowners. 



Afforestation should be carried out, partly by the State, and 

 partly by private owners of land. There is no doubt that the 

 work would be more cheaply done if landowners were encouraged 



