664 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



6. Establishment of interagency task forces at field and head- 

 quarters levels to increase flow of information on Federal aid pro- 

 grams to new suburbia, and to expedite processing of applications 

 for assistance. 



7. Study of housing and building codes, zoning, tax policies, and 

 development standards. 



Landscape Action Program 



The Chairman, Mr. WHYTE. For the landscape, some of the most 

 exciting opportunities for public action are ways to stimulate private 

 action. And a tremendous base for action has already been laid. 

 We think there are new programs to bet set up, but one of the biggest 

 challenges is to harness the programs that are already underway. 



We suggest a task force to review the statutes to see where they 

 might be broadened to incorporate natural beauty. A policy direc- 

 tive on natural beauty, for example, is especially needed by the Bu- 

 reau of Outdoor Recreation for the administration of the Land and 

 Water Conservation Fund. Natural beauty should be cranked into 

 the recreation plans of the States to qualify for the grants under this 

 program. 



Many agricultural programs have a great potential. The land re- 

 tirement and cropland adjustment program, for example, could do 

 much for recreation and the look of our landscape even if only a 

 small portion of the funds are used for that purpose. 



Another example is the Clarke-McNary program for tree planting. 

 At present, the statutes specifically prohibit planting for aesthetic rea- 

 sons. With a little adaptation, this program could be a wonderfully 

 stimulating device to get States to furnish nursery stock for private 

 landowners that would cooperate in an area landscape program. 

 Quite literally, this would be seed money. 



But how do we get these local landscape plans going? 



There is a big vaccum in our planning apparatus. There is a 

 host of city, regional, and State planning and recreation commis- 

 sions, and some are exceptional. As far as the landscape is con- 

 cerned, however, most of these groups suffer an operational defect. 

 They don't look at it. 



There are plenty of maps and studies, of course, and they are 

 necessary. But the view is vicarious. It is bird's-eye the view of the 

 aerial mosaic and it is once or twice removed from reality. 



