Conservation Boards. 299 



The law for Gotland was renewed in 1894, adding 

 a reforestation clause, the governor being authorized 

 to prohibit shipping of timber under 8 inch diameter, 

 and that not until new growth was established ; or at 

 least no new fellings may be made until this condition 

 is fulfilled. The same law applies to sand dune 

 plantations in other, southern districts. Altogether 

 one-quarter of the private forest property was in 

 this manner subjected to restrictions, until the pre- 

 sent conservation law came into existence. 



This law, of 1903, which became operative in 1905, 

 was the result of a most painstaking, extended canvass 

 by the legislative committee, appointed in 1896, which 

 reported in 1899, and of a further canvass by the 

 Director of Domains, who reported in 1901. A 

 large amount of testimony from private forest owners, 

 sawmill men, provincial and local government officials, 

 etc., was accumulated, and it may be reasonably ex- 

 pected that this new legislation will be more effective 

 than most of the preceding seems to have been. 



The law requires in general terms the application 

 of forestry principles in the management of private 

 woodlands. For this purpose, a Forest Protection 

 Committee, one for each province, is constituted 

 which has surveillance over all private forests, an 

 institution similar to that existing in Russia. 



The Committee, or Forest Conservation Board, 

 consists of three persons who are appointed for three 

 years, one by the government, one by the County 

 Council, one by the managing committee of the 

 County Agricultural Society. In addition, where 

 the communities desire, elected Forest Conservation 



