1012 A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



holdings predominate. Forests must not be devastated or treated in 

 such a manner that natural regeneration is jeopardized. Stands of 

 immature conifer timber may not be cut, but they may be thinned in 

 a rational manner. Where necessary, cut-over areas must be re- 

 planted. Clearing of land for crops, pasture, or other use is allowed, 

 provided it is suitable and is actually put to such use. Unless the 

 forest is managed in accordance with a working plan approved by the 

 provincial forestry board, or unless the owner himself is merely making 

 a rational thinning of his woods, the board must be notified before 

 cutting, with information as to time, place, extent, and character of 

 cutting. 



Forestry boards (eight in number) consist of 3 to 5 members each, 

 and an equal number of alternates, all appointed for 3-year terms. 

 The members are chosen by the provincial agricultural societies 

 and societies of rural economy, excepting one, who is selected by 

 the central Government office for the promotion of private forestry. 

 Each board has attached to it a provincial forest inspector (and in 

 some instances an assistant inspector) and provincial rangers aver- 

 aging 6 to 8 in each Province. Each provincial board is assisted 

 by communal boards, each consisting of at least three members 

 elected by the community. 



The provincial boards look out for illegal cutting, and advise and 

 instruct the owners as to methods of reforesting cut-over land, in- 

 cluding both that newly cut and that already denuded. Forests that 

 have been mismanaged in violation of the law are subject to rather 

 strict regulation by the boards. As originally constituted, the function 

 of these boards was merely to prevent forest devastation, but the law 

 adopted in 1928 made them responsible also for promoting the devel- 

 opment of private forestry through dissemination of information, and 

 assistance in forestry operations and cooperative undertakings. This 

 had previously been left to the agricultural societies, under the super- 

 vision of the Board of Agriculture. 



Protection forests may be so classified by the Government at the 

 request of the State Board of Forestry, where they are near timber 

 line, on drifting sand, or on steep slopes, where the destruction 

 of the forest cover would threaten to cause damage to other land. 

 Timber in protection forests, except for domestic use, may be utilized 

 only with the sanction of a forest official. As most of the forest that 

 falls in this class is State forest, this law has caused no difficulty. 



FRANCE " 



Two thirds of the French forest area is in private ownership, of 

 which more than half is divided among approximately 1,400,000 

 owners whose holdings are less than 50 hectares each, with an average 

 of about 2% hectares (6 acres). Less than one tenth of the area is 

 held by the 700 owners of more than 500 hectares (1,250 acres). 



n Bourdeaux, Henry (editor), "Code forestier, suivi des lois sur la p6che et la chasse et code rural." 

 384 p., Paris, 1930. 



Guyot, Charles, "Manuel de droit forestier a 1'usage des particuliers proprietaires de bois." 340 p., 

 Paris, 1921. 



Guyot, Charles, "Le reboisement et la conservation des forets privees." 38 p. Paris, 1920. 



Revue des Eaux et Forfits 68: 428; 590; 655. 1930. 



Loi relative a la reglementation de 1'abatage du chataignier, 6 d cembre 1928. In Annuaire International 

 de Legislation Agricole, 1928, p. 338-339. Internatl. Inst. Agr., Rome, 1929. 



Anterrieu-Vons, "Organisation du service de defense des forets, etc." In Actes Congres International 

 de Sylviculture, vol. 5, p. 163-184. Rome, 1926. 



