MONTANA'S FOREST AREA 



A look at Montana's forest resources reveals that 

 one quarter of Montana's land area is forested, and one 

 quarter of this forest land is non-productive. Statistics 

 pertaining to local forest areas — their properties and 

 potentials — are available in varying degrees of com- 

 pleteness and accuracy. 



If compatible with land capability, each area of 

 forest land should be managed for its maximum contribution 

 to the economy. This may mean the utilization of an 

 area for one or more limited purposes. However, forest 

 lands will usually contribute most to the economy and 

 to society if administered under the multiple -use concept 

 of land management. 



Local administrators of federal, state, and large 

 private company forest land holdings have a wealth of 

 information which can be adapted and used by local 

 leaders in developing the forest resources of their areas. 



More than 1U,000 individuals own k, 857, 000 acres of 

 forest land in Montana--and 5,000 of these owners are farmers 

 and ranchers who collectively own half the privately owned 

 forest land in the State. The Office of Montana State Forester 



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