A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 243 



forest land use contemplates, is a sound, conservative objective for 

 the following reasons: 



(1) Our estimate of normal requirements is 16.5 billion cubic feet. 

 A national program of forestry should be based upon a sustained yield 

 of at least a billion cubic feet more than this as a margin for safety. 



(2) Beyond the estimated normal requirement of 16.5 billion cubic 

 feet is the ultimate probability that the United States may supply 

 the world softwood markets on a much larger scale than hitherto. 



(3) Such a far-reaching and drastic program as that embodied in 

 this tentative set-up can hardly be expected to be brought to the 

 point of complete accomplishment. For example, short of sweeping 

 public regulation of privately owned forest lands and a large program 

 of further public acquisition, there is no means of insuring the practice 

 of forestry on anything like the acreage of forest lands involved in this 

 plan. 



A very long time will be required, probably 60 to 80 years at least, 

 before anything approaching full accomplishment under plan II or 

 plan III can be realized. Moreover, the realization of such a plan 

 involves several major features, probably not all of which can be 

 carried forward at once with full speed. It is, therefore, fitting to 

 inquire what single feature deserves first consideration as measured 

 by its effect upon bringing sustained timber yield into balance with 

 requirements as promptly as possible. 



The most unsatisfactory aspect of our present forest situation, 

 from the standpoint of timber use, is believed to be the tremendous 

 impoverishment of the growing stocks in the eastern regions. It is 

 one that has in the past had relatively little general recognition. By 

 and large, cutting has been at the expense of capital account. A 

 situation has been reached in these eastern regions where, according 

 to the estimates presented under the heading Sustained Yield Possi- 

 bilities in the preceding discussion of Timber Growth, regulated 

 growing stocks equivalent to the volume of present stands would 

 support, under saw timber rotations, a sustained yield equal only to 

 about two fifths of that which is caUed for by plan III. 



Generally speaking, a forest property upon which stands are already 

 established, even though inadequately, can be developed into a 

 regulated sustained yield enterprise at less expense and more quickly 

 than one upon which established stands are largely lacking. The 

 relative importance of taking every advantage of the existing stands 

 in the East as the main basis for attaining a satisfactory growing 

 stock situation is, therefore, obvious. 



In the opinion of the authors the safeguarding of existing stands 

 in the East and their development into adequate growing stock is the 

 most urgently needed constructive measure. This fact does not, 

 however, minimize the necessity of providing for an adequate planting 

 program for areas not likely to restock naturally, for the development 

 of adequate protection against fire, insects and disease, and for the 

 control of cutting in the western regions, to facilitate the conversion 

 of those forests to an adequate sustained yield basis. All of these 

 features are essential elements in the realization of either plan II or 

 plan III. 



Recent trends in growth and drain on our forest resources, if con- 

 tinued, will further aggravate an already very unsatisfactory condi- 

 tion. Although we appear to have a potential forest land resource, 



