16 



National Resources Committee 



land. In the case of forest land already badly denuded 

 by fire or other causes, and at the same time of such 

 character as to be impracticable for private forest 

 ownership, the public should imdertake the work of 

 protection and restoration. In the matter of fire pro- 

 tection especially, there is most urgent need for vigorous 

 enforcement of the present reasonably good laws which 

 are supported by strong public sentunent. No matter 

 who may eventually own the forest land, it must be 

 adequately protected in order that natiu-al growth may 

 not be destroyed, and that the public may receive the 

 man}' benefits which far outweigh the cost of protection. 



Cooperation 



The successful maldng and carrying out of plans 

 depends upon cooperation. During the past 3 years, 

 public agencies responsible for forestry matters and 

 forest industries have developed far better cooperation 

 than ever before. These groups have developed mu- 

 tually approved programs of public and industry action. 

 In order to secure effective application of these programs. 



it is essential as the next step that hearty cooperation 

 between public forest agencies and the forest industries 

 be maintained and strengthened. But it is also essen- 

 tial that similar cooperation be established between (a) 

 these two groups on the one hand and (b) other eco- 

 nomic and social groups and the general public on the 

 other, and that such cooperation be put in effect 

 promptly. 



Time to Act 



It takes many years to grow saw-timber trees. 

 Timber resources must be planned and prepared many 

 years ahead in order to secure continuous operations 

 and permanent commimities. Already many com- 

 munities in the region have faded away and it is already 

 too late to make others permanent. But there is still 

 time to provide permanently for many other com- 

 munities. The rapid passage of tune and the swift 

 progress of forest operations makes it extremely im- 

 portant that there be prompt consideration of and 

 action upon this program. 



RECOMMENDED PROGRAM OF ACTION 



The following recommendations state briefly the 

 action which should be taken by the Federal Govern- 

 ment, by the several States, by the industry, and by 

 the general public. 



Recommended Federal Action 



Legislation 



1 . Authorize establishment of Cooperative Sustained- 

 Yield Units consistmg of national forest, other Federal, 

 State, and/or private forest lands, under contracts (a) 

 requiring of private and other cooperators suitable 

 provision for forest protection, forest reproduction, and 

 cutting with due regard for the sustained-yield capacity 

 of the forest, and (6) otherwise suitably protecting the 

 public interest. 



2. Establish new branch of Faim Credit Administra- 

 tion to organize "Forest Credits" in order that funds 

 ma}' be available at a minunmn practicable mterest 

 rate for these private forest owners engaging in sus- 

 tained-yield forest management. 



3. Amend Clarke-McNary Act (which provides Fed- 

 eral funds to be used in cooperation with State and 

 private funds in protecting State and private forest 

 land from fire) by (a) extendmg scope to include insect 

 and disease protection, erosion control, and flood pre- 

 vention; (6) increasing annual fire protection authoriza- 

 tion and providing a new authorization for forest insect 

 and disease protection; the estimated needs of the 



Pacific Northwest region are $850,000 and $190,000, 

 annually, for fire protection and for insect and disease 

 protection, respectively; the corresponding national 

 needs would be approxuuately $5,000,000 (an increase 

 from $2,500,000) and approxunately $1,000,000, 

 respectively. 



4. Authorize, for a period of 10 years, an annual 

 appropriation, to be available until expended, for the 

 acquisition of forest land for national forests. Due 

 consideration should be given in maldng such purchases 

 to the encouragement of management of private lands 

 for sustained production and to the development of 

 Cooperative Sustained-Yield Units through the acquisi- 

 tion of lands of such character and location as will con- 

 tribute to the establishment of such units. The needs 

 of the Pacific Northwest Region alone for this purpose 

 are estimated as at least $9,000,000 per annum. 



5. Amend present law (under which 25 percent of all 

 national forest receipts are paid to the counties for their 

 school and road fund) so that more suitable methods 

 may be devised, if practicable, for making contribu- 

 tions to counties in lieu of an economically sound and 

 equitable tax income not obtainable because of land in 

 Federal ownership. This course is required in view of 

 (a) relatively delaj^ed utilization of most national forest 

 timber and (b) proposed substantial increases in 

 national forest areas. 



G. Amend McNary-McSweeney Act by increasing 

 total authorization for the Forest Survey, authorizing 



