THE FOREST 201 



influence the public has on these decisions of the Forest Service 

 is by direct protest to Congress. It is quite remarkable that the 

 Forest Service has managed to keep such protests at a minimum 

 and at the same time preserve and increase the productivity of 

 the national forests. 



For a discussion of the additional phases of Forest Service 

 multiple-use, see page 165 for gracing, page 120 for watershed 

 protection, and page 224 for Forest Service recreational areas. 



WILD LIFE 



The protection of wild life is primarily the duty of the 

 state, since the state governments assume the ownership of 

 wild life. However, within the national forests there are 400 

 wild'life and bird sanctuary areas. 11 These areas are adminis 

 tered by the foresters, although the animals belong to the state. 

 The question of this ownership is one that has never been 

 finally decided, and it is possible that the ownership of animals 

 on federal land will be turned over to the federal government. 

 In that case, the Forest Service will become a more important 

 wild-life management agency. 



A large part of the work of the Forest Service is experi 

 mental. Throughout the country they maintain experimental 

 stations with qualified scientists in charge to study forest prob 

 lems. At Madison, Wisconsin, in a great white modern build 

 ing, the Forest Products Laboratory is housed. There scientists 

 of the Forest Service attempt to discover new ways of using 

 wood and methods of making more efficient old uses of wood. 



The national forests may some day be the chief source of 

 timber supply in the United States. The Forest Service is 

 trying to find out how this timber supply can be put to its 

 highest use and at the same time be preserved. The answer thus 

 far has been sustained yield management. Every year the 



11 Report of Chief of Forest Service, op. cit., p. 22. 



