66 A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



THE PUBLIC REGULATION RECOMMENDED 



The recommendation that chief reliance be placed on public owner- 

 ship as the next major effort in American forestry eliminates Nation- 

 wide public regulation, at least for the tune being, except as a possible 

 concurrent effort. 



As a minimum, State legislation and enforcement of public regula- 

 tion is desirable in the fields in which it has been most fully supported 

 by public opinion, and should, therefore, be most enforceable. The 

 outstanding example is in the use of fire and the elimination of fire 

 hazards such as slash. 



No discouragement should be offered to any State which desires 

 to experiment in more comprehensive regulation. 



One desirable form of extension which combines aid with regulation 

 is that of loans. It is desirable that an effort be made in the near 

 future to work out the possibility of loans under Federal auspices, 

 with terms and requirements adapted to the needs of forest properties. 

 To protect the public interest, such loans should in each instance be 

 coupled with enforceable requirements for sustained yield manage- 

 ment. Some such machinery as that now set up for farm loans by the 

 Federal Farm Loan Board might be found feasible. 



Still another possible extension might take the form of authoriza- 

 tion for mergers and/or the curtailment of production, if coupled with 

 provisions for the protection of the public interest through enforceable 

 requirements for sustained-yield management. Although plans of this 

 character might be worked out under State auspices, Federal authori- 

 zation and control would probably in most instances be preferable. 

 The most promising possibility may be in the Pacific Northwest, where 

 such an arrangement, if feasible, might serve to prevent the depletion 

 of the remaining forest capital and hence a serious future reduction in 

 forest growth. 



Both of these plans deserve serious study, that of loans as a general 

 proposition, and that of mergers and curtailment with reference to 

 specific conditions such as that indicated in the Northwest. Either 

 or both may well be found to be in the interest of private owners as 

 well as of the public. 



While either or both could hardly be depended upon to bring about 

 the rapid country-wide adoption of forestry by private owners which 

 is necessary, they might result in stimulating an advance which would 

 not otherwise take place. 



It is possible also that the privilege of enlarged association activi- 

 ties might be coupled with desirable provisions for better land man- 

 agement. 



The entire question of public regulation needs further study by both 

 private and public agencies. 



American private owners have ordinarily considered it inherently 

 objectionable. But the preceding discussion of loans and mergers 

 indicates that many of its aspects would be beneficial to them. Man- 

 datory public requirements should be accompanied by enlarged public 

 aid, a combination which would benefit both the private owner and 

 the public. Beyond this is the probability that sustained yield man- 

 agement in many, if not most, cases would be far more profitable than 

 devastation and deterioration. 



From the public standpoint, regulation with the exceptions in- 

 dicated could be held in reserve for possible future use in case public 



