Protective Forests. 265 



and other waters; and those on the slopes of moun- 

 tains, where they serve to prevent erosion, landslides 

 and avalanches. 



Conversion of these protective forests to farm use 

 is forbidden, and the use of a clearing system in 

 forest management, as well as pasturage and other 

 uses supposed to be detrimental, may be interdicted, 

 and the method of management may be prescribed. 

 An instruction regarding the execution of the law 

 promulgated in 1889 prohibited clear cutting in conifer 

 forests, permitting only selection forest, and in especi- 

 ally endangered localities only the use of the dry 

 wood and such trees as interfere with natural repro- 

 duction. 



"Protected" forests are those which are located 

 at the head waters and upper reaches of streams 

 and their affluents. Here the rules as regards clear- 

 ing, mismanagement, reforestation and pasture ap- 

 plicable to the non-protective forests, prevail, except 

 that clearing may be prohibited or permitted, if the 

 committee deems it not dangerous owing to the 

 small size of the clearing. 



In forests, which are not protective forests, con- 

 version into farms or clearing with the sanction of 

 the committee is permitted, if thereby the estate is 

 improved, e.g., if the soil is fit for orchards and vine- 

 yards. Such clearing may also be allowed if the soil 

 is fit for temporary field use, but in that caee the area 

 must be eventually reforested. Clearing is also per- 

 mitted, if another formerly farmed parcel of the same 

 size has been reforested at least three years prior to 

 the proposed clearing; or if in artificial plantations 



