A NATIONAL PLAN FOE AMERICAN FORESTRY 1031 



under it without further restriction. The Government provided free 

 technical advice, plants, and seed free, or at cost, and long-term loans 

 on forests managed under working plans. 



Forests on the headwaters and upper reaches of streams (except in 

 the Caucasus and certain northern Provinces) were classed as pro- 

 tected forests. These were subject to the same restrictions as the 

 nonprotection forests, and in addition the forest board could prohibit 

 clearing unless the area was so small that no harm would result. 



A third class of forest included the protective forests, which were 

 those protecting drifting sands, banks of rivers and other waters, and 

 mountain slopes liable to erosion, landslides, or avalanches. These 

 forests were classified by the forestry boards, and were required to be 

 managed under working plans prepared (without cost to the owner) 

 by the Crown forest department and approved by the board. Con- 

 version to farm use was prohibited, and the board could prescribe in 

 detail the method of management and utilization. All protective 

 forests were exempt from taxation. Expropriation was provided for 

 in case an owner refused to incur the expense of the measures imposed 

 by the board, but he was allowed to recover his forest at any time 

 within 10 years by paying the costs, with interest. 



SPAIN 



In 1930, three fourths of the forest land (about one half of the pro- 

 ductive forest) of Spain was in private ownership. Under legislation 

 then in force, clearing of forests (deforestation) is forbidden except to 

 put the land to agricultural use and upon written agreement that it 

 will be thus utilized within a reasonable time. Permission to clear 

 must be obtained from the civil governor, after consultation with the 

 forest or agricultural officer of the district, or both of them. Permis- 

 sion of the Governor must also be obtained before converting coppice- 

 with-standards to simple coppice. 



Clear cutting, except where the land is to be cleared, is also for- 

 bidden. An owner may cut not to exceed one fifth of the total number 

 of trees during any 10-year period in forests of the principal commer- 

 cial species, or during a 5-year period for fast-growing species such as 

 poplar, aspen, willow, birch, alder, and eucalyptus. This restriction 

 does not apply to coppice stands, but in those the stumps must not be 

 uprooted. It also does not apply to tracts of less than 5 hectares, or 

 to forests cut in accordance with working plans where the cut does 

 not exceed the annual growth. Certain exceptions are also allowed 

 where the forests are comparatively inaccessible or where ties are 

 being cut for the national railways, so long as sufficient young trees 

 are left to insure the continued existence of the forest. Stands that 

 are planted expressly for production of posts and mine props may be 

 cut clear if the land is replanted within a year. To take advantage 

 of these exceptions, special permission must be obtained from the civil 

 governor upon recommendation of the municipal authorities. Within 

 the above limitations, the owner is not required to report any cutting. 



Two thirds of the fines collected for violations of the law go into a 

 special fund which is used to reward those who restock bare lands. 



44 Real decreto de 3 de diciembre de 1924 regulando las cortas y descuajes en los montes de propledad 

 particular, y instrucciones para su cumpliraiento. 



168342 33 vol. 1 66 



