A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 59 



One obvious advantage which would accrue from fully adequate 

 private effort would be the elimination of any necessity for further 

 extension of public ownership and administration of land. Another 

 might be the best possible outlet for private initiative; still another 

 would be the largest possible tax base and hence tax returns to local 

 governments. 



The main public disadvantage is the lack of assurance either that 

 the land will be utilized, that the needed forest products or necessary 

 services of the forest will be supplied, or that the combined economic 

 and social benefits from both will be realized. 



Furthermore, the longer present trends continue the larger the area 

 of devastated land and deteriorated forest will be and the greater 

 the direct and indirect losses to the public, including the cost of 

 restoration. 



It is difficult to escape the conclusion that there is nothing in past 

 experience or definitely in sight for the future which gives reason for 

 hope that private ownership can be depended on for anything ap- 

 proaching the contribution to American forestry that has been expected 

 of it during the past 20 years. 



WHAT PRIVATE OWNERSHIP SHOULD DO 



Under the program of public ownership proposed, 255 million acres 

 of commercial land, including approximately 20 million acres of 

 abandoned agricultural land, would remain in private ownership, in 

 contrast with the 451 million acres of commercial forest land and 

 abandoned agricultural land now held. About three fifths, or 155 

 million acres, would be in industrial ownership and 100 million in 

 farm ownership. 



Noncommercial forests in private ownership would be about 16 mil- 

 lion acres instead of the present 45. 



Private ownership would be relieved of much of its most acute 

 problem such as the part caused by overload of forest land and timber. 



The responsibility of private ownership would, however, be in- 

 creased, not reduced. It would still hold over 46 percent of the com- 

 mercial forest land, including abandoned agricultural land. This 

 area must be depended upon for growing one half of the timber 

 needed to meet national requirements. 



It would involve as a minimum intensive management for timber 

 production on about 40 million acres and extensive management on 

 150 million areas far in excess of those now under such manage- 

 ment and standards of protection, silviculture, and sustained yield 

 management much above those now in use. It would involve much 

 greater and much more effective efforts to maintain and increase 

 consumption of forest products. 



Private ownership would still hold the responsibility for watershed 

 protection on nearly one fifth of the area of forests of major influence. 



To make the opportunities for private owners still more favorable 

 and the assurance of constructive action more certain, public aid 

 should be expanded in the ways which promise the largest results. 

 The question of aid is discussed in detail on the following pages but 

 must be referred to here to round out the picture. Judiciously used, 

 public regulation could also be made to contribute to the same end. 



Aid in protection against fire, insects, and disease should meet the 

 public obligation in full. A fair share of the technical knowledge 



