1272 



A NATIONAL PLAN FOB AMERICAN FORESTRY 



tain region an analysis of the probable plans of the owners of the 

 larger tracts of private forest land indicated that not over 10 percent 

 of the forest land was likely to remain permanently in private owner- 

 ship. In the regions least favorable for private forestry, this figure 

 has been used. It has then been assumed that in the intermediate 

 classes (2 and 3) 60 and 35 percent, respectively, will remain in 

 private ownership. On these broad assumptions an approximation 

 of probable future private ownership of forest land, exclusive of farm 

 woodlands is attempted. In table 5 are presented the acreages now in 

 private ownership, the opportunity classification for private fores- 

 try, and the percentage and area likely to remain in private ownership. 

 The indication is that, for the United States as a whole, more than 

 40 percent of present private holdings will go into public ownership, 

 involving an acquisition program of some 115 million acres. Of this 

 total 73 percent will come out of the eastern regions, but will represent 

 only 36 percent of the present private forest land area in the East. 

 The 27 percent from the western regions, on the contrary, represents 

 81 percent of private holdings. 



TABLE 5. Possible future distribution of ownership of commercial forest land now 

 privately owned t exclusive of farm woodlands 



Although this estimate can be regarded only as having an indi- 

 cative value, it does signify that unless several miracles occur shortly, 

 the problem of public ownership of forest lands will have to be recog- 

 nized and attacked on a very much more comprehensive scale than 

 has been previously envisioned. 



DISTRIBUTION BY GROWTH CLASSES OF INDUSTRIAL TIMBERLAND 



The problem of future ownership distribution can be approached 

 by another method, namely, the present condition of the land. The 

 private forest land owned by other than farmers is thus classified 

 in table 6. Here the areas that may remain in private ownership 

 are estimated on the basis of realizable and more immediate prospec- 

 tive value. Thus it is assumed that private ownership would retain 

 the bulk of the 91 million acres still possessing realizable timber 

 values, and in the main offering a business opportunity to private 

 ownership to practice private forestry. In addition it may retain 

 about two thirds of the cordwood area, about one third of the fair 

 to satisfactory restocking area, and only a small fraction of the 54 



