GOLD COAST REPORT ON FORESTS. Ill 



when the same river flows through all of them, and the forests 

 in question are situated at the sources of the stream (which latter 

 may not, in the particular State in which they are situated, be con- 

 sidered of much importance) the waters of which are required for 

 such purposes as irrigation, navigation, &c., in the other States. 

 Similar examples occur when the existence of an article of forest 

 produce which, though of great demand in many States, is only 

 to be found in one or a few of them, is threatened by over- 

 exploitation or the reckless destruction of the forests. 



Adopting the principle, then, that the native communities are 

 entitled, except in the case of Crown lands or others leased from 

 the natives under conditions that do not imply the exercise of this 

 obligation, to a share of the revenues derived from the wooded 

 areas managed as forest estates, the chief measures to adopt with 

 a view to ensuring forest conservancy are : - 



(a.) The enactment of a principal proclamation, ordinance, 

 or whatever else it may be called, that empowers the Governor 

 in Council to regulate forestry matters generally within the 

 limits of the colony and protectorate, and provides, amongst 

 other things, for the legal constitution of reserved forests. 



(6.) The passing of ' orders ' and ' rules ' under the 

 above authority from time to time, as the necessity arises, 

 with a view to making the provisions of the principal enact- 

 ment operative. 



(c.) The employment of executive measures with a view to 

 selecting and managing the areas required as reserves, and for 

 the purpose of supervising the application of the rules and 

 orders and enforcing them. 



Before proceeding to a detailed consideration of the proclama- 

 tion, orders, and rules that are required for the purpose of 

 establishing forest conservancy on the Gold Coast, it will be con- 

 venient to mention briefly the manner and agency by which it has 

 been provided for in the different feudatory and dependent States 

 of India in which the British Government is either not the 

 general owner of the land, or, if it is, does not exercise the privi- 

 leges of ownership. 



Taking the extreme case of native chiefs in the N.W. Hima- 

 layas, where the law of British territory does not apply, and where 

 some excellent timber forests exist which it was very desirable to 

 protect, the latter were leased by the chiefs to the British Govern- 

 ment either for a long term or in perpetuity. The forests are 

 managed by forest officers of the Indian Government, and all 

 arrangements regarding rights of user and penalties for forest 

 offences, &c., are carried out under the lease, the chiefs agreeing 

 to enforce rules. 



Again in the case of the native States near Simla and in Cash- 

 mere the chiefs have by agreement and under the influence of the 

 political officers been induced to " allow or undertake a certain 

 conservancy." 



The best example perhaps, however, for the purpose of this re- 

 port is the case of the Southern Shan States of Burma which, 



