FIRE CONSERVANCY. 197 



regeneration, is, however, a recognized silvicultural operation in 

 the technique of sal regeneration.) 



(2) Miscellaneous forests of the plains and Bliabar.. These 

 occur extensively in Gonda, Kheri, Tarai aud Bhabar Estates, 

 Haldwani and Ramnagar divisions. In Gonda they are fire- 

 protected but over grazed, elsewhere they are used largely as 

 grazing grounds (to reduce the grazing incidence in the more 

 valuable sal forests), and usually indiscriminately burnt. The 

 possibilities of protecting one periodic block at a time for the 

 general improvement of the growing stock is worth the considera- 

 ation of Working Plan Officers. 



(3) Chir (pine). It is recognized that fire protection is of 

 paramount importance (a) in resin coupes, (b) in areas under 

 regeneration, where the regeneration is not safely established from 

 the risk of fire. Elsewhere it is admitted that fire protection 

 although advantageous to the forest is not absolutely essential, 

 and might be replaced by controlled departmental burning 

 downhill in April, especially if this course tended to ensure the 

 greater safety of the resin coupes and regeneration areas. Such 

 a policy would be justified if it acted as an insurance against the 

 recurrence of the incredible damage caused by the holocast of 

 incendiarism of 1916 and 1921. Similarly, early burning of resin 

 areas is worth experiment, as this has been found to work 

 successfully in the Punjab. 



(4) Other hill conifers (deodar, kail, silver fir, spruce). These 

 species are all so tender to fire that their complete protection from 

 fire is considered essential. 



(5) Oaks and other hill forests. These forests are seldom very 

 inflammable, their burning is of no benefit to the hill villager, 

 protection undoubtedly improves their condition, and in reserved 

 forests these areas should be protected, so long as this can be 

 carried out economically. Unfortunately the new rules in 

 Kumaun allow the indiscriminate burning of these oak forests. 



