22 PROBLEMS IN WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



land from agricultural use. It is planned to devote most of 

 this area to forestry, not only because the agricultural situa- 

 tion is such that the acreage under cultivation must be re- 

 duced but because forestry as a part of an integrated national 

 resources conservation program is important in itself. 



Broad Forestry Program Planned: Forests, properly lo- 

 cated, have many other values besides being a source of 

 timber supply. The evident trend toward shorter working 

 hours among all classes of the population points to the need 

 of giving more attention to recreation. Forest areas in 

 some measure can be made to supply that need. 15 



Nor can the possibilities of forests as a means of pre- 

 venting floods and destructive soil erosion be overlooked. 

 A survey recently undertaken at the request of the Presi- 

 dent showed that large areas in certain sections of the coun- 

 try have been adversely affected by the destruction of the 

 forest covering as a result of the floods which followed such 

 destruction. 16 In part this situation may be remedied by a 

 reforestation of upland areas especially those located near 

 the headwaters of important streams. Thus from the social 

 point of view there seem to be strong arguments in favor 

 of reforestation. 



Every effort should be made, of course, to obtain as large 

 an economic return from these forest areas as possible. 

 Fur animals, under proper management, can be made an 

 important supplementary source of revenue. 17 The eco- 



15 Report of Land Planning Committee, National Resources Board, 

 January, 1935, Govt. Print. Office. 



16 Report of the President's Waterflow Committee, September 1934; 

 Govt. Print. Office. 



17 Ashbrook, Frank, Chief, Division of Fur Resources, U. S. Biological 

 Survey, special memorandum to Special Committee on Conservation 

 Wild Life Resources, U. S. House of Representatives, July 6, 1934. 

 See also, Leopold, Aldo, " Conservation Economics," Journal of Forestry, 

 May 1934. 



