SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS, 49 



to increase the returns from surplus lands, and to provide 

 occupation through the operations connected with the adminis- 

 tration of the forests and the industries which the existence of 

 forests tends to create. • 



In considering the advisability, or otherwise, of afforesting 

 a country, with special reference to the indirect effects of 

 forests, the most important points are its climate and con- 

 figuration. The nearer to the equator the more important 

 becomes, as a rule, the forest question, and the further 

 removed from it the less important. While forests may in a 

 hot country, with distinct wet and dry seasons, be absolutely 

 necessary for the mitigation of extreme heat and dryness 

 during certain parts of the year and the regulation of the 

 flow of water in springs and rivers, they may be injurious in 

 a northern country which is already too cold and damp. 

 Similarly, a continental country may require forests, while a 

 seabound country may, apart from wind-breaks, be better 

 without them as far as climatic considerations are concerned. 

 A mountainous country is much more in need of forests than 

 a low-lying country on account of their beneficial action as 

 regards landslips, avalanches, the carrying away of debris, the 

 silting up of rivers and low lands, sudden floods and the 

 sustained feeding of springs. As regards the protection 

 against strong winds and shelter to cattle and useful birds, 

 forests act beneficially in any country. 



On the whole, no general rule can be laid down showing 

 whether forests are required in a country, or what percentage 

 of the area should be so used. The forest question must be 

 determined on the special circumstances of each country. By 

 way of illustration the areas at present under forest in a 

 number of countries are shown in the table on the next page. 

 Considerable differences exist in respect of the data available 

 for several of the countries. In all such cases, the data which 

 appeared most reliable have been entered in the statement. 

 The percentage of forest area varies from 48 to 4 per 

 cent, and the area per head of population from 9*9 to "1 



M.F. K 



