292 FORESTRY IN THE CROWN COLONIES. 



The imports have steadily decreased since 1914, but the value 

 per cubic foot has greatly increased. Prior to the war, the 

 imports consisted chiefly of conifers from Scandinavia and teak 

 from Burma. 



10. Summary and Outlook. 



The question of increased export depends on the quality of 

 the indigenous timbers and the cost of getting them to the sea. 

 On the first point much further enquiry is necessary, while, at 

 present, a railway haulage of 400 miles is necessary to get the 

 timber to a port. Rapid progress in communications is said to 

 be taking place, so that all the forests will soon be accessible for 

 exploitation. 



The object of the management of the State forest is, according 

 to the local forest authorities, to maintain and increase the yield 

 of timber. At the same time it is stated that the present rate of 

 cutting is in excess of the rate of growth, owing to the failure 

 to obtain natural regeneration. As a result there will be a 

 shortage of timber for a period in the districts near the line of the 

 Uganda railway as these forests have been drawn upon for the 

 supply of wood fuel for the railway. 



It appears to the author that the first endeavour of the Forest 

 Department should be to obtain a more accurate knowledge of 

 the area, composition and yield capacity of the forests. Until 

 this has been obtained it is impossible to formulate a definite 

 forest poKcy for the future. Next, a rational estimate of the 

 requirements of the country, allowing for an expected increase, 

 .should be made, and an area sufficient to yield that quantity 

 permanently should be converted into reserved State forests 

 and taken under efficient protection and management. More 

 particularly, shifting cultivation should be so regulated that 

 damage in the permanent State forests is avoided ; the latter 

 should also be efficiently protected against fire. The opening out 

 of the country by the construction of appropriate means of 

 transport should receive adequate attention. 



Professor Troup, of Oxford, has just inspected these forests 

 on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and his report 

 will, no doubt, supply full information on the subject, though not 

 iu time to be utilized on the present occasion. 



