28 Recreation Uses on 



these main uses can be served at the same time on the same 

 area they are carried forward side by side, sometimes in actual 

 cooperation. Whenever two of these uses come into conflict, 

 some authority determines which is likely to render the greater 

 public service. This then becomes the paramount use on the 

 area in question; other uses are secondary, and, if they interfere 

 seriously with the primary use, they are altogether excluded from 

 the area. This policy is so obvious, simple, and practical that it 

 needs no defense. 



Moreover this policy need not be changed in the slightest 

 when recreation comes to be recognized in the list of major 

 utilities. It is, in fact, the policy already and inevitably adopted. 

 On the principal areas of the National Forests recreation is an 

 incidental use; on some it is a paramount use; on a few it becomes 

 the exclusive use. 



With respect to this matter as it affects the internal workings of 

 the Forest Service alone, some emphasis should be placed on 

 the fact, frequently not recognized, that the recreation use on 

 Forest lands only rarely interferes with other uses. In general 

 the natural development and protection of the Forests operates 

 directly to enhance the recreation values. On the other hand 

 recreation, except where it becomes intensive at certain points, 

 seldom infringes upon other uses of the Forest. The development 

 of this fact has been, in some cases, rather surprising. For 

 example, it has been found, contrary to common expectation, 

 that the presence of campers and summer-home permittees in 

 considerable numbers, instead of increasing the fire risk has in 

 some cases actually assisted in fire protection. Any general 

 argument therefore which alleges a conflict between the recreation 

 uses and other Forest utilities starts from a premise which is not 

 true. 



