CHAPTER II > 

 THE ROLE OF FORESTS 



The Value of Forests (p. 17). Objective, Dangers of Deforestation, Fundamen- 

 tal Causes, Obligation of the State. 



Forest Influences (p. 19). Effect on Temperature (Air Soil), Wind, Frost, Hail, 

 Humidity and Rainfall, Water Level, Springs, Floods, Avalanches and Erosion, Health, 

 Recreation, and Beauty, Literature and Art. 



THE VALUE OF FORESTS 



Objective. — The objective of this chapter is to give the American 

 forester an insight into French views — somewhat ideahstic to be sure — 

 on the role that the forests play in national hfe and to summarize briefly 

 the technical viewpoint on "forest influences." Huffel's exposition on 

 forests and springs is given in full in the Appendix, p. 361, and Jacquot's 

 statement on the physical, economic, and social rule of forests, on p. 381. 



Dangers of Deforestation. — If forests fail to yield a good revenue, 

 should they be cut? or are they worth financial sacrifices? French policy 

 is based on the economic fact that her forests are worth the sacrifice, and 

 her forest history points unfalteringly to the evils of reckless deforesta- 

 tion. Who could view the eroded Alps, Pyrenees, or the torrents of the 

 Lozere and think otherwise? The penalty for using up forest capital is 

 too great. 



" When the mountains are baked ^ all is ruined. The rains . . . fall in torrents 

 and rush off the denuded soil. They first carry off the vegetable cover. The mountain 

 shows its rocky skeleton, the rocks break up, cones of erosion are formed, landslides, 

 gullies, unstable slopes become so many running sores by which the substance of the 

 mountain is carried down. The rocks offer more or less resistance according to their 

 texture, but none withstand. Even granite splits up into enormous blocks which roll 

 irresistibly down into the valleys. . . . When the highlands are ruined, what becomes 

 of the plain? . . . The river becomes a torrent when it rains, carrying down earth, 

 trees, and rocks. Swollen beyond measure, it flows over the plain in a sudden flood 

 which destroys houses, flocks, villages, and people. . . . The sudden flood is char- 

 acteristic of denuded countries . . . the mountain can no longer supply the valley 

 with water. Now is the time of drought and famine. Irrigation is impossible for the 

 rivers are dry. . . . The cultivators try to continue the struggle by means of 

 reservoirs and costly dams." 



What a picture, but how true! Look at deforested countries and they 



1 G. A. Pearson kindly reviewed this chapter. 



2 Deboisement et Decadence. F. Regnault. La Revue, March 1, 1904. 



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