1100 A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



the grazing of domestic livestock, the use of water resources, and the 

 use of land for purposes of industry, recreation, etc. It has definitely 

 inaugurated advanced systems of silvicultural management, including 

 the planting of denuded areas. It has established or is in process 

 of establishing the systems of physical improvements essential to 

 the proper protection, utilization, and occupancy of the areas such 

 as roads, trails, bridges, telephone lines, administrative structures 

 lookout towers, etc. It has developed methods and principles under 

 which the industrial or economic use of the natural resources of the 

 areas is equitably apportioned between the industrial or commercial 

 groups and interests dependent upon the use of such resources. 



Finally, it has conducted a large program of forest research, not 

 only applying the results thereof to the lands under Federal manage- 

 ment but also making them available for applications to all other 

 forest lands where similar conditions prevail. In consequence of 

 this action by the Federal Government wide-spread benefits have 

 accrued to all of the States within which the national forests are 

 situated. Some of these are abstract and in tangible; the majority 

 are direct and concrete and of large proportion. 



The outstanding benefit to local interests which accrues through 

 national-forest administration is the stability and permanency of 

 local industries which results. The natural resources are protected 

 from fire, insects, disease, and destructive forms of use. Their 

 volume and utility are increased by constructive forms of manage- 

 ment and development. Their utilization is conducted in an orderly 

 manner and with a view to securing permanent and sustained pro- 

 duction of the most complete character compatible with the preserva- 

 tion of the basic natural capital. Opportunity to use these resources 

 to meet personal needs or for purposes of industry and profit is 

 afforded under conditions which secure equitable distribution and the 

 best net contribution to local welfare and prosperity. Certainty of 

 future economic security and permanency of community and indus- 

 trial growth and development thus is created and reflects itself in 

 every phase of industrial life of the community. 



A second contribution to public welfare, of far-reaching consequences 

 is the element of watershed protection. With each passing year 

 water becomes more and more indispensable to the industrial and 

 community life of the Nation, so that effective watershed protection 

 is a matter of vital consequence. Where no national forests exist, 

 watershed protection is entailing an increasing burden of public and 

 private expense. States or parts of States whose watersheds are 

 embraced within national forests secure satisfactory watershed pro- 

 tection withou t direct outlay. The needs of municipalities adequately 

 are met and safeguarded and every effort is made to maintain the 

 stability and purity of streamflow essential to the full utilization of 

 water resources. 



A third benefit is the contribution to wild-life conservation. The 

 availability of extensive areas of national-forest lands as suitable 

 habitats or environments for wild life permits the fullest public devel- 

 opment and most complete use and enjoyment of this resource at a 

 minimum of local public or individual cost. If the national forests 

 did not supply these facilities they would have to be provided in other 

 ways at local expense. The cooperation of the national-forest organ- 

 ization in game-law enforcement and fish planting relieves the States 



