60 PROTECTION AGAINST MAN. 



Unfortunately, forest offences are always considered by 

 country people less culpable than those against the penal code, 

 as many German proverbs show. This results from the former 

 communal possession of many forests, and the small value of 

 forest produce in earlier times. Even now, the appropriation 

 of Christmas trees, birches for Whitsuntide and sallow branches 

 in bloom for Palm Sunday, are frequently considered justifi- 

 able. The forester should not be too exacting regarding certain 

 innocent practices ingrained in the popular mind, and he 

 should endeavour to become acquainted with all local customs 

 which prevail near his forests. 



The following are the protective measures against forest 

 offences : 



a. Removal of Causes of Offence. 



Want of occupation and consequent poverty often leads to 

 an increase of forest offences. As a population increases, 

 without more opportunities for employment arising, and as 

 the clearance of communal and private forests causes a rise 

 in the price of forest produce, the temptation to commit 

 offences is increased. They are also more frequent near 

 populous towns than elsewhere, as the trade in stolen forest 

 produce is thus facilitated. At Hard war in N.-W. India, in 

 1882, unmarked forest produce brought into the town was 

 regularly priced lower than properly certificated produce, as 

 the former was suspected of having been misappropriated and 

 might get the purchaser into trouble. Insufficient education, 

 careless watching of a forest, bad forest legislation, and a 

 feeble execution of justice on the part of magistrates, may all 

 combine to increase forest offences. 



The subject of Forest Policy comprises a study of the above 

 factors, and only the energetic action of the State can ensure 

 thorough protection to forests against forest offences. Under 

 Forest Protection, we can rely only on means within the power 

 of the private forest owner, which are as follows : 



(i) Careful utilisation of all forest products, so that all local 

 wants may as far as possible be supplied. Frequent sales of 

 produce, and in small lots, and credit given for a certain part 



