86 ANNUAL REPORT OF 



The law of July 20, 1893, on the preservation of ^Pro- 

 tecting Forests" and against the destruction of forests, 

 has special provisions relating to ' 'Protecting Forests, "by 

 which are meant forests serving as a protection against 

 snow avalanches, stone slips, alteration of river beds, 

 shifting sand, or as a special protection to other forests or 

 to inhabited country. * 'Protecting Forests" are also such 

 as bound districts and mountain forests, which, from 

 their situation on the slopes of high mountains or in the 

 neighborhood of the sea, or in the far north, grow so slow 

 that they would die out if neglected. Under i 'Protecting 

 Forest Lands" are also included bare fields, to be planted 

 in the future to serve as other "protecting forests." The 

 municipal council selects three men, who, after consulting 

 the public forest officer, propose the localities within the 

 district to be considered as ' 'protecting forests." The 

 municipal council has then to fix the boundaries of the 

 forests, and on the proposition of the forest inspector of 

 the district to determine the rules for its management. 

 These regulations must have the sanction of the king to 

 be valid. The municipal council can also make reserva- 

 tions, subject to the king's approval, against the destruc- 

 tion of the forests in general. Such municipal regulations 

 relating to * 'protecting forests" and forests in general may 

 probably also include compulsory regulations as to plant- 

 ing and sowing of forests already cut down. No other 

 laws relating to forest culture exist in Norway. 



The damage caused by fires in the public forests is in- 

 considerable. Many years there is none; and the damage 

 done to private forests is of small account and unreported. 

 The principal cause or causes of such fires is carelessness 

 of owners, fishermen, cowherds, etc., as well as the burn- 

 ing of heather for cultivation of the land. The law of 

 July 14, 1893, on 4< Fires in Forest and Fields," with the 

 supplemental law of July 27, 1896, has provisions relating 

 to the prevention and extinction of forest fires. 



