A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



143 



In the West, it will be observed, a large share of the additional 

 recreational withdrawals may be confined to lands where timber pro- 

 duction probably would have no practical significance for many years. 

 In the East, where there is relatively little inaccessible land, the rec- 

 reational withdrawals will have to come from lands which would 

 otherwise play a part in timber use. Recreational needs should, 

 therefore, be an important consideration in formulating a program for 

 public acquisition of forest land in the East. 



TABLE 4. Estimated area of present commercial forest land that may well be 



reserved for recreation 



USE OF FOREST LAND FOR GAME 



The social and economic values contained in wild life are of far 

 reaching importance iii the multiple-use management of forested 

 areas. Forest lands in one form or another furnish the environmental 

 conditions in whole or in part for all classes of game, fur bearers, and 

 other wild life except that which prefers open country and unwooded 

 marshland. Direct economic values attributable to game include 

 those of food and fur, and income from sale of hunting and fishing 

 licenses. Indirect values include the market afforded by hunting and 

 fishing to manufacturers of arms, ammunition, fishing tackle, clothing 

 and other outdoor equipment; expenditures of sportsmen for board, 

 transportation, guide service, and sundry supplies; annual expendi- 

 tures of sportsmen and clubs for hunting and fishing privileges in pri- 

 vate lands; and benefit of wild life, chiefly birds, as destroyers of in- 

 sects preying on agricultural crops. These various values total well 

 over 1 billion dollars per annum according to W. L. McAtee, of 

 the United States Biological Survey, who has made an intensive 

 study of the subject. For the State of New York, for example, esti- 

 mated expenditures of hunters and fishermen were more than 14 

 million dollars in 1931. 



Revenues from a game crop can be secured by proper management 

 measures. Present-day problems of land management and awaken- 

 ing recognition of wild-life values, are turning the attention of land 

 managers and economists to the potentialities of game as a forest land 

 resource. Experience tends to demonstrate that game values are an 

 important source of income, particularly during long periods needed 

 for rehabilitation of depleted forest areas. 



Social values of forest game life are far-reaching. Game and fish 

 are closely associated with recreation. Additional leisure for the 



