Korea. 389 



tree species, was the immediate cause of the Russo- 

 Japanese war. Xow, in 1907, by co-operative arrange- 

 ments with Japan, a conseryatiye forest policy has been 

 inaugurated by laws similar to those of Japan. 



Drouth, floods and erosion of soils have been common 

 experiences. The preservation of forest cover, especially 

 at the headquarters of the Yalu and Tumen in the 

 northern part of the country, is aimed at. 



For this purpose the government has taken all forests 

 imder its care. All private owners or lease holders must 

 report their holdings and have their property listed, and 

 in case of failure to do so the property is forfeited. The 

 government may then expropriate, or else regulate the 

 cutting, or, where protective functions of the forest cover 

 require it, may forbid cutting altogether. 



A forestry school is also part of the prc^am. 



