A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 1075 



be continued, the entire area needing protection would be covered in 

 about 20 years. During the same period Federal, State, and private 

 funds devoted to forest fire protection have increased from $984,000 

 to $7,222,000. Federal aid has been an important factor in this 

 increase in area protected and in funds provided. The results are 

 much more important than would be represented by the area which 

 could be directly protected each year by a sum equivalent to the 

 Federal aid appropriated. It should be noted that in the fiscal year 

 1932 the Federal Government financed 47 percent of its assumed 

 obligation for an "adequate" program of protection, and the States 

 and private owners 43 percent of theirs. 



3. Forty-six per cent of the State and private forest land classed 

 as in need of protection is still unprotected. This area lies for the 

 most part in the South and Central regions, where Federal aid has 

 meant the most in getting protection started. 



4. On protected areas forest fires have annually burned over 1.7 per 

 cent of the area protected, whereas fires have covered about 19.8 per- 

 cent of unprotected areas. This proves that the protection work 

 undertaken has caused a sharp reduction in fire damage. 



5. Forest fire protection in the New England, Middle Atlantic, 

 Lake, north Rocky Mountain, south Rocky Mountain, and Pacific 

 coast regions is well established. In many areas it can be expected to 

 develop adequately under present plans, with increase in public sup- 

 port which can be anticipated. In parts of the north Rocky Mountain 

 and Pacific coast regions, however, conditions are developing that 

 may become critical as a result of the tendency toward abandonment 

 of protection by owners interested primarily in the merchantable 

 timber now on the land. The need here for a larger, sharing in pro- 

 tection costs by the Federal Government and the States is clearly 

 indicated. Fortunately, the area involved is comparatively small (less 

 than 4 per cent of forest area of the country), although the present 

 importance of the timber is very great. 



In the South lies the great unprotected forest area, and to apply the 

 proper degree of protection involves difficult problems which have 

 important social as well as economic and financial aspects. Progress 

 wifl. it is believed, be necessarily slow. The private owner here has 

 an increasing interest, since the forest land principally involved is 

 coming up to stands of rapid-growth timber which are being com- 

 mercially utilized at a young age. This interest cannot, however, be 

 relied upon to bring State-wide protection without increased public 

 participation. 



6. In the administration of Federal aid the Forest Service has 

 served as a clearing house for information and for educational material 

 to the advantage of the State projects. The merit system in the 

 employment of men has been promoted, technical standards among 

 personnel have been raised, and methods of protection have been 

 measurably improved. 



7. The questions may be asked, Has Federal aid in fire protection 

 stimulated the practice of forestry on private land? To what extent 

 is such Federal aid effective in keeping lands in private ownership? 



In most cases where the question is up for decision whether an 

 owner shall retain title to a piece of forest land or let it go tax delin- 

 quent, the answer is based upon many considerations other than 

 protection. Insofar as the protection consideration has force, Federal 



