266 Russia. 



the growth is not yet 20 years old ; also in a few special 

 cases where property boundaries are to be rounded 

 off, roads to be located, etc. If after six months 

 from the time of the application the committee 

 has not forbidden the clearing, it is considered 

 as permitted. It is also forbidden to make fellings 

 which prevent natural regeneration, and the running 

 of cattle in young growth is prohibited. Private 

 owners are not required, but are permitted, to submit 

 working plans, and if these are accepted, they are 

 exempted from any other restrictions. Such plans 

 may be considered as accepted if the committee does 

 not express itself within one year. All clearings made 

 in contravention to the committee's decision must 

 be replanted within a prescribed time or may be 

 forcibly reforested by the committee. 



The most interesting feature, because thoroughly 

 democratic, is the creation of the local forest pro- 

 tection committees, which are formed in each pro- 

 vince and district, composed of various representatives 

 of the local administration, one or two foresters in- 

 cluded, the justice of the peace or other justice, the 

 county council and two elected forest owners, in all 

 nine to eleven members, under the presidency of the 

 governor. 



This committee is vested with large powers. It 

 decides, without appeal, what areas are included in 

 protective forests and approves of the working plans 

 for these as well as for the unreserved forests; it de- 

 termines what clearings may be made, and exercises 

 wide police powers with reference to all forest matters 

 working in co-operation with the Forest Administra- 



