NATIONAL FORESTRY PROGRAM APPROVED 



IN New York on October 15, for the first time after 

 many years of agitation and controversy, a definite 

 proposal for a national forest policy received the pre- 

 liminary endorsement of the several elements chiefly 

 concerned, which promises well for its adoption and for 

 its success through their co-operation and through fair 

 sharing of public and private responsibility. 



At this conference accredited representatives of the 

 nation-wide lumber and paper industries which control 

 most of the commercial forests in private ownership met 

 with similar representatives, speaking in behalf of the 

 general public, and of the wholesale lumber distributors, 

 the newspaper organizations vitally interested in the 

 paper supply as well as in general economic walfare, and 

 the great wood-using industries such as furniture and 

 vehicle manufacturing, railroad operation and the like. 



These organizations included the following: 



National Lumber Manufacturers Association, National 

 Wholesale Lumber Dealers Association, American Pulp 

 and Paper Association, American Newspaper Publish- 

 ers Association, Association of Wood Using Industries, 

 Western Forestry and Conservation Association, United 

 States Chamber of Commerce, American Forestry As- 

 sociation. 



Unanimous agreement was reached on all essentials 

 of a federal legislative program, more specific in detail 

 but substantially in accord with the recommendations 

 made last June to the United States Senate by Chief 

 Forester W. B. Greeley. Colonel Greeley was also at 

 the conference by invitation and gave its conclusions his 

 full approval on behalf of the United States Forest Serv- 

 ice. It is expected that this preliminary agreement, being 

 thus so significant of accomplishment through its full 

 consideration of the public welfare, will receive the rati- 

 fication of all the public and private agencies represented, 

 and also be acceptable to the majority of others interested, 

 including the forestry departments of the several states. 



The primary provisions are two-fold for a con- 

 siderable extension of direct federal activity in forest 

 ownership and production, and for the development with 

 federal aid and encouragement of such systematic poli- 

 cies in the several forested states as, being consistent 

 with local conditions, will bring about adequate forest 

 protection and reproduction in the interest of these states 

 and of the public at large. 



With these aims, the program provides specifically, 

 through co-operation between the Government, the states 

 and owners of timberlands, for adequate protection 

 against forest fires, for reforestation of denuded lands, 

 for obtaining essential information in regard to timber 

 and timberlands, for extension of the National Forests, 

 and for other steps all essential to continuous forest 

 production on lands chiefly suitable for this purpose. 



Much of the responsibility thus outlined lies with 

 states and with private owners. To define that which lies 

 with the Government and hence is properly for the con- 



sideration of Congress, the following legislation is pro- 

 posed. 



1. Authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture after 

 consulting appropriate local agencies to approve an ade- 

 quate policy for each state, covering the essentials of fire 

 protection on timbered and lestocking lands, reforestation 

 of denuded lands, and, where and to the extent necessary, 

 the cutting and removing of timber crops so as to pro- 

 mote continuous production of timber on lands chiefly 

 suitable therefor, and authorizing his co-operation in the 

 work required, provided there is also satisfactory local 

 compliance in state legislation or administrative practice. 

 Chief, although not entire emphasis for the time being on 

 fire prevention, as the most important single step, and not 

 less than a million dollars annually available for such 

 co-operation with states. 



2. A survey to obtain necessary information as to 

 forest resources, forest production and forest require- 

 ments of the nation. 



3. Provision for studies and experiments in forest re- 

 production methods, wood utilization, timber tests, wood 

 preservation, development of by-products and other steps 

 to bring about the most effective use of the nation's forest 

 resources. 



4. Provision for a study of forest taxation, to assist 

 states in devising tax laws which will encourage the 

 conservation, and growing of timber. Also methods of 

 insuring against forest losses by fire. 



5. Provision for more rapid replanting of the vast 

 areas of denuded lands within the National Forests. 



6. Appropriation of ten million dollars a year for 

 five years for the purchase of lands which should be 

 added to the National Forest system, whether or not 

 on the headwaters of navigable streams as such pur- 

 chases are now limited. 



7. Authorizing acquisition of similar lands by ex- 

 changes of land or timber when clearly in the public 

 interest. 



8. Authorizing the addition to National Forests of 

 lands now in other forms of government ownership but 

 found chiefly suitable for permanent forest production. 



Some of these features of a complete Federal pro- 

 gram will doubtless be covered in whole or in part by 

 recommendations to Congress by the Secretary of Agri- 

 culture in connection with the agricultural appropria- 

 tion bill. It was felt by the conference, however, that 

 they shoud be presented in a comprehensive measure 

 clearly setting forth the picture of an adequate national 

 forest policy and proper Federal participation therein. 

 By this means, with other efforts, the necessary private 

 and state participation can best be shown and obtained. 



The American Forestry Association, representing the 

 public, was delegated to take charge of the educational 

 campaign in the endeavor to secure the passage of the 

 bill and will call upon the public and every interest con- 



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