FOREST LOSSES ON THE ITALIAN FRONT 



1323 



deteriorating effect on the condition of the forests. 



Just prior to the outbreak of the great war, however, 

 forestry in Italy received a new impetus with the estab- 

 lishment of a much larger and better organized technical 

 force and provision by the government for a greatly 

 increased appropriation for operation and maintenance. 



The total area of Italy, including the islands of Sicily 

 and Sardinia, consists of about 71,500,000 acres, which 

 is equivalent to the combined area of the states of New 

 York and Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut and 

 New Jersey. Within this comparatively small area, a 

 population of 36,000,000, more than equivalent to one- 

 third of this country is congested. 



Of the total area of Italy, only 17.64 per cent is now 

 covered with forests. Italian forestry officials estimate 



Photograph by Nelson C. Brown 



A VIEW IN THE LUMBER YARD OF A SAW MILL OPERATED EX- 

 CLUSIVELY ON WAR ORDERS IN CENTRAL ITALY. WOMEN 

 WERE COMMONLY EMPLOYED IN YARD WORK OF THIS KIND, 

 AS SHOWN IN THIS PICTURE, OWING TO THE SCARCITY OF MEN 

 THE LUMBER SHOWN IN THIS VIEW IS BEECH. THE BEST 

 BOARDS WERE SELECTED AND USED FOR AIRPLANE PRO- 

 PELLERS, THE REMAINDER BEING USED FOR TRENCH TIMBER, 

 BARRACKS. ARTILLERY WORK, AND FOR MISCELLANEOUS 

 NAVAL PURPOSES. 



that at least 32 per cent of the total area of the country 

 should be covered with forests. The production of 

 wood is only one of the several important factors enter- 

 ing into the necessity for better forestry in Italy. The 

 maintenance of a continuous water flow for her water 

 power properties, for example, is one of the very most 

 important features. The prevention of erosion on the 

 steep mountain sides, is also an important feature of 

 forestry and its function in Italy. Moreover, the aesthetic 

 side of forestry in Italy has not been neglected any more 

 than in this country. In fact, aestheticism plays such an 

 important part in the national life of the people that the 

 development of her forests along this line, combined 

 with its recreational features, are destined to play a very 

 important part in the future of Italian forestry. Already 

 certain state forests have been set aside and designated 

 as summer resort forests, where cutting is only to be 

 permitted to maintain the forests in best condition, and 



Photograph by courtesy of the Italian General Headquarters 



A HIGH LOOK-OUT FROM THE TOP OF A LOMBARDY POPLAR 

 ALONG THE ITALIAN FRONT. VANTAGE POINTS SUCH AS THIS 

 MADE EXCELLENT OBSERVATION POSTS TO DETECT ENEMY 

 MOVEMENTS. 



they are not to be regulated along the usual forestry 

 principles. 



Of the 12,565,000 acres of forest in Italy, which is 

 equal to about the total forest area of New York in this 

 country, a large share is located in the mountains. About 

 6,700,000 acres are classified as being located in the 

 mountains, and about 3,800,000 acres in the lower hills, 

 the remainder being in the valleys and on the plains. 

 Only 3.8 per cent of the total area of forests in Italy are 

 owned and controlled by the Central Government. This 



Photograph by Nelson C. Brown 



LUNCH TIME ON THE RESERVE LINE AT LOSSON ABOUT A 

 MILE FROM THE FRONT LINES ON THE LOWER PIAVE RIVER 

 FRONT. JUST BEFORE THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN THIRTY- 

 FIVE AUSTRIAN SHELLS WERE DROPPED IN THIS VILLAGE 

 DOING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE CAMPANILE TOWER 

 SHOWN IN THE BACKGROUND. 



