6 



National Resources Committee 



mispioji invites especial attention to the following con- 

 sideraticins: 



The program has pointed strongly toward stabilizing 

 communities and industries. The necessity for sus- 

 tained-yield management as an essential for stabilized 

 communities and industry is pointed out. But it is 

 also recognized that the present condition of forest 

 resources does not make sustained-yield management 

 universally applicable within the region. Further- 

 more, important economic obstacles need to be over- 

 come so as to facilitate extended application of this 

 method, esiJccially, insofar as possible, to make the 

 ownership and management of forest land on a sus- 

 tained-yield basis attractive to private enterprise. 



The program recognizes the desirability of a distribu- 

 tion of responsibility for action between private owners, 

 the State and Federal Government. The program defi- 

 nitely recommends that private forest owners continue 

 to progress in the development and application of the 

 Forest Practice Rules developed under the Lumber 

 Code, which provide (a) for forest protection, (6) for 

 conservation of immature trees and young growth from 

 unnecessary logging damage, (c) for restocking the land 

 after logging, {d) for technical study of forest properties 

 and operations with the object of developing forest 

 plans and practices most suitable to local conditions, 

 and with the object of applying selective logging m 

 forest types which permit, and also of applying the 

 principle of sustained yield wherever practicable. 



There is recognition of the fact that public action is 

 required in the removal of imreasonable economic obsta- 

 cles in order that private owners may be enabled to per- 

 form their part. Admittedly, only the public can remove 

 some of these obstacles. The States shoidd do all they 

 can in the program, and substantial and direct support- 

 ing Federal action is required to meet public responsi- 

 bility beyond the States' power. It is also recognized 

 by the Conunission that there is a responsibility resting 

 on the private owners of forest lands to utilize the 

 advantages, accruing by virtue of removal of these 

 obstacles through public action, to further the practice 

 of sustained-yield management. 



Simimarizcd, the proposed urgent legislative and ad- 

 ministrative program for placing forest land imder sus- 

 tained-yield management includes: 



(1) Provision for putting all publicly owned land on 

 a sustained -yield basis. 



(2) Provision for the organization and operation of 

 cooperative sustained-yield units which include both 

 public and private land under contracts providing 

 adequate protection of public interests involved. 



(3) Provision for long-term public credits at low in- 

 terest rates, for timber operators working on a sustained - 

 yield basis. 



(4) An increase of public fire protection appropria- 

 tions sufficient to insure adccpiatc fire protection. 



(5) An authorization and apprt)priation of sufficient 

 public fimds adequately to combat, in cooperation with 

 private owners, the ravages of timber-destroying 

 insects and diseases. 



(6) Authorization and provision of funds for public 

 acquisition of both tind)ered and cut-over private lands 

 where such accpiisition is necessary for effective sus- 

 tained-yield forest practice. 



(7) A change in the taxation system so as to relieve 

 timber properties from pressure for innnediate liquida- 

 tion and at the same time provide funds for the adequate 

 conduct of local tax-supported units. 



(8) Increased pidjlic appropriations for research in de- 

 termining more effective methods of forest management 

 and more complete utilization of wood and wood waste. 



(9) Classification and zoning of land suitable chiefly 

 for forest uses. 



(10) Provide all practicable safeguards in public legis- 

 lation, policy and adnunistration to bring about full use 

 of public contributions in the promotion of sound forest 

 practices, including sustained-yield management. 



Several immediate, outstanding objectives will be 

 evident in the proposals of the report: Checking of 

 present trends of destruction by fire and disease; prepa- 

 ration of lands for future production; improvement and 

 extension of practices of sound forestry ; and setting up 

 of sustained-yield operating units. 



One of the essential measures for the attainment of 

 these objectives is further provision for public acquisi- 

 tion of forest land. Every attempt should be made to 

 induce private timber operators to adopt sustained-yield 

 practice. However, as the report points out, it is not 

 reasonable to expect these operators, in all cases, even 

 with the inducement of low taxes and interest, to carry 

 sufficient timber land to make sustained-yield operation 

 practicable. The report in effect recognizes that past 

 public land disjjosal policy has ])laced more forest land 

 in private ownership than private owners are now able 

 and willing to manage for continuous production upon 

 a basis approaching a sustained yield. It also recog- 

 nizes that there are broad areas of land, cut over or in 

 second growth, immanaged and likely to be abandoned 

 by their private owners. It also pomts out that, under 

 the present pattern of ownership, private and public 

 forest lands are in many places intermingled to such an 

 extent that independent sustained-yield management is 

 impractical. It suggests, therefore, an attack upon tliis 

 problem by the public along two principal lines: (1 ) Ac- 

 quisition by the public of substantial holdings of mature 

 and second-growth stands; and (2) the management of 

 some public and private lands, as cooperative sustained- 

 yield units, under a contractual relationship. 



