xxiv INTRODUCTION 



(1) No great nation can prosper without controlling forest destruction 

 and without practicing forestry. Decadent nations (outside the tropical 

 zone about which we know little) have no considerable areas of valuable 

 forests, either in public or private hands. Under modern civilization, 

 decadence and widespread, permanent devastation of an existing forest 

 resource are inter-related, especially in localities with somewhat deficient 

 rainfall. With forest devastation the local population within potential 

 forest areas decreases. 



(2) From the national economic viewpoint the indirect benefits of 

 forests have a bearing on the nation's health, climate, and general 

 prosperity. 



(3) The financial returns or direct benefits from permanent forest pro- 

 duction are usually less than the average net profits secured from other 

 forms of conservative business, and the risk of growing forests is con- 

 siderable the more extensive the conditions usually the greater is the 

 risk. But in some cases private forests can be handled properly as a 

 conservative investment provided the economic conditions are satisfac- 

 tory and provided technical and financial assistance is given by the State. 



(4) If forest production and an equitable annual yield is to be sus- 

 tained obligatory regulation is essential, not only in private but also in 

 public forest management, but the success of mandatory forestry on 

 private land is very doubtful if the owner maintains his forest solely for 

 its return in money, unless the State cooperates. 



(5) Where private owners are not restrained by law and where the sole 

 aim is immediate financial profit, their forests are usually destroyed, and 

 during the process of disintegration often constitute a public menace. 

 This rapid realization of growing stock or capital is because the forest is 

 usually a poor permanent investment and because of the inherent human 

 tendency toward rapid gain. 



(6) The far-reaching results of forest destruction are often slow in 

 making themselves felt, but are cumulative in their adverse effect on the 

 public interests. The correction of forest denudation is so slow and so 

 exceedingly expensive that most if not all mountain forest areas should be 

 controlled by the State. 



(7) With the harvest of virgin stands stumpage prices (and the- cost of 

 the wood products) increase until they attain the cost of producing timber 

 under forest management. Even when all the timber of a nation is being 

 grown as a crop, prices of material of the same quality tend to increase 

 with the intensity of civilization. 



(8) In great land States (such as many of the United States) the 

 business of forestry with its related industries will, next to agriculture, be 

 the chief source of prosperity. The value of forest land generally de- 

 creases after forest destruction and increases according to the amount of 



