A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 1009 



owner. Protection forests include two categories : (1) Ordinary con- 

 servation zones, which are forest, grazing, or waste lands that should 

 be conserved as a matter of public interest in order to protect the 

 soil on mountains and slopes, to protect springs and streams, to 

 prevent erosion of shores and river banks, and to protect roads, rail- 

 ways, and inhabited places; and (2) compulsory conservation zones 

 in the mountains, where the land is exposed to especial danger of 

 erosion, torrents, and avalanches; and threatens to cause damage to 

 more or less distant localities, arable lands, roads, railways, etc. 



In the compulsory zone the authorities may require stabilization 

 of the soil through afforestation or masonry work, and the State may 

 contribute 30 percent of the cost of the work. Owners cannot be 

 compelled to spend money on these lands, but if they do not the 

 State can expropriate the land. 



Clearing of the forest and conversion to other use is not allowed in 

 either zone, nor may clear cutting be done. The State may prohibit 

 any cutting, grazing, or removal of litter until a management plan 

 is adopted. Such a plan, covering the utilization of the timber, 

 forage, or other products, may be prepared by the owner or his agent 

 and approved by the Minister of Agriculture and Domains. It must 

 insure the continued productivity of the forest but not necessarily 

 sustained yield. Permission of the State forest officer must be 

 obtained before cutting, and unless application is made before July 1 

 of each year the owner has to pay the officer's expenses in examining 

 the tract. 



If the owners of one half of the forests within a given unit agree, 

 the State may require that small areas of mountain protection forests 

 be grouped into larger units so as to facilitate management. The 

 State is obliged to expropriate the lands of those owners who are 

 unwilling to cooperate and to pool its own forests with the others in 

 the unit for purposes of cooperative management. 



The State may remove the inhabitants from protection zones; in 

 such an event it pays their moving expenses, grants them better 

 located cultivable land in exchange, and may also grant cash subsidies 

 to help them get started in the new location. 



Nonprotection forests are subject to a less degree of control. Graz- 

 ing is not permitted in plantations less than 10 years old, in coppice 

 stands less than 2% feet tall, or on naturally reproducing areas under 

 old timber or on burns. The number of stock that may be run on 

 forest lands is subject to restriction, depending upon the character of 

 the forage. The local population may vote to exclude goats. Night 

 grazing is prohibited, and all stock must be accompanied by a herder. 

 Areas of more than 10 hectares (about 25 acres) may not be cut 

 without the permission of a State forest officer. The State is to 

 supply free planting stock to all classes of owners. 



Forests other than protection forests may be subjected to further 

 control at the owners' request. Such forests may be cleared where 

 suitable for agriculture, where they will be restocked artificially, 

 where they are less than 10 hectares in area but not part of larger 

 tracts together containing more than 10 hectares, or in cases where 

 an equal area of other land has been satisfactorily restocked. Planta- 

 tions under 20 years old may be cleared (except where planted as 

 penalty for deforestation). 



