A NATIONAL PLAN FOB AMERICAN FORESTRY 1017 



BAVARIA 19 



About half of the forest in Bavaria is privately owned. Most of 

 the pnvate forest is in small units. Only one fifth of it is managed by 

 foresters. Every owner is entitled to the free use and management of 

 his forests so long as the rights of other parties are not infringed upon, 

 and so long as he complies with the provisions of the forestry law which 

 are designed to insure the maintenance of the forest in a productive 

 condition. 



Protection forests include those on ridges, steep slopes, hillsides, 

 and bluffs, those affording protection against avalanches and winds, 

 and those serving to maintain the flow of springs, to prevent the ero- 

 sion of stream banks, and to fix drifting sands. Such forests may not 

 be destroyed or even clear cut. 



Other forests may be cleared only with the permission of the forest 

 authority, provided the land is unquestionably suited for agriculture 

 or other superior use, and provided the owner agrees to put it to such 

 use within a period to be specified. Land devoted to forests must be 

 kept forested and may not be devastated; that is, it may not be 

 handled in such a way as to threaten its continued existence as a forest. 

 Clear cutting is not considered as devastation, provided the land is 

 restocked promptly by natural or artificial means. Areas denuded 

 by cutting or through any other cause following the adoption of the 

 law must be reforested, by planting if necessary. If the owner fails 

 to do this within a specified time, the State foresters will do it at his 

 expense. When forest land or standing timber is sold, the authorities 

 must be notified and a permit obtained before the timber is cut. 

 This may be refused unless reforestation is assured. It may be re- 

 fused in case of young high-forest stands if less than 75 percent of the 

 trees are 12 centimeters or more in diameter. 



Grazing at night or on areas occupied by young growth is forbidden, 

 and livestock must be accompanied by a herder. The use of fire and 

 the erection of buildings in or near a forest are subject to limited con- 

 trol. The owner must carry out such measures as may be required by 

 the authorities in case of insect outbreaks. 



A private forest mav^ be subdivided only with the consent of the 

 forest authorities, and in no event may it be subdivided to such an 

 extent that the separate portions are incapable of regular management. 



HESSE M 



Less than one third of the Hessian forest is privately owned. Two 

 classes of private forests are distinguished: Class I forests (about 70 

 percent of the total), managed by technically trained foresters; and 

 class II forests, which are not so managed. Class I forests do not have 

 to pay the special forest protection tax which is collected from owners 

 of class II forests. All forests must be kept continuously productive, 

 and their yields increased so far as practicable. For clearing of forest 

 land, the permission of a superior forest official is required. Bare land 

 that is suitable for forestry and unused for crops or pasture must be 



" Ganghofer, A. Von, " Das Forstgesetz fur das Konigreich Bayern." Ed. 2, 381 p. Nordlingen, 1889. 



Weber, H., "Forstpolitik," Ch. XIX, in Handbuch der Forstwissenschaft, Ed. 4, Bd. 4. Tiibingen, 

 1927. 



Endres, M., "Handbuch der Forstpolitik." Ed. 2, p. 176-178. Berlin, 1922. 



Weber, H., " Forstpolitik, " Ch. XIX, p. 365-367, in Handbuch der Forstwissenschaft, Ed. 4, Bd. 4. 

 Tubingen, 1927. 



