A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 1225 



Of the above expenditures, the part applying directly to forest 

 projects on State lands is estimated at 35 percent, which largely 

 constitutes State forest acquisition, management, and planting. 

 The character and extent of the aid which is being extended by the 

 States to private owners is discussed under a separate heading. 



STATE INTEREST IN FORESTRY 



The concern of the State in the protection and perpetuation of 

 its private and public forest properties is even more direct than is 

 that of the Federal Government. This concern is reflected in the 

 actual amounts of State funds now being made available for fire pro- 

 tection, planting, extension, forest insect control, etc., which are 

 considerably in excess of Federal aid. With State and private owner- 

 ship embracing 82 percent of the Nation's forest area, the States' 

 responsibilities in doing everything possible to protect and encourage 

 the most productive use of this large area are clearly evident. 



In 30 States the area of State and privately owned forest lands 

 comprises 25 percent or more of the total land area. In these States 

 the proper use of forest lands is a major factor of the land use problem 

 as a whole. The drag of idle, unproductive land affects the economic 

 welfare of all citizens, and the regrowth of forest crops on cut-over 

 lands offers at least a partial solution of this difficulty. 



It is clearly evident that continuous productive use of forest lands 

 is necessary to enable the forested States to attain their maximum 

 degree of economic and social development. In the majority of 

 States, private forest lands constitute a vital component of the tax 

 base. To the taxable assets of forest lands and timber as such are 

 to be added those of sawmills, pulp and paper plants, and kindred 

 manufacturing establishments, as well as logging equipment, railroads, 

 and the like, all of which combine to form a most imposing aggregate 

 of revenue-producing properties. 



Employment of labor is recognized as the vital index of economic 

 health. The harvesting and manufacturing of products from the 

 forests provide a large share of the employment of labor in practically 

 all States, and in several States the lumber industrial pay rolls exceed 

 all others in numbers of men employed and wages paid. 



FACTORS AFFECTING STATE ACTION 



PUBLIC USE OF PRIVATE LANDS 



Public use and abuse of millions of acres of privately owned forests 

 constitutes one of the major justifications for State participation in 

 extending aid to private forest owners. Public interest in forest pro- 

 tection is an obligation commensurate with the use of privately owned 

 land by the public. In addition to timber production, forests usually 

 provide hunting, camping, and scenic attractions, which in most 

 regions extend beyond the owner's immediate advantage and carry 

 over to the general public. In a State where public use of State and 

 private forest areas contributes materially to the pleasure, profit, 

 and well-being of its people or where forest areas are of sufficient 

 attraction to bring in many citizens from other States, then making 

 State funds available to insure the continuation of these benefits 

 becomes at once a desirable and necessary State function of public 

 service. 



