338 FORESTRY IN THE CROWN COLONIES. 



greater financial value than that derived from the export of 

 timber. By far the most important item of export is balata, 

 while the imports consist of shooks and staves. 



8. Summary and Outlook. 



Cubic feet. 



Utilization 726,219 



Less Exports . . . . 310,451 



415,768 

 Plus Imports .... 308,766 



Total Home Consumption . 724,534 



The home consumption is probably much higher than the official 

 data indicate. 



The local authorities state that the duration of supplies is 

 *' unknown." It seems, however, that an early efiort should be 

 made to acquire some knowledge on that subject, especially as the 

 Guiana forests are evidently of greater value than the local 

 authorities appear to realize. Although there are as yet great 

 stores of hardwoods in the British Empire, destruction, waste and 

 injudicious management are still rampant in many parts, and the 

 forest wealth of Guiana may be called upon at an earlier date than 

 may appear. Under these circumstances prompt steps should 

 be taken in the following direction : — 



(1) An efficient protection of existing stocks and especially 



against fire and other waste. 



(2) The prohibition of settlement in selected areas situated 



within the accessible part of the country, with the view of 

 converting them into permanent State forests for future 

 supplies of forest produce. 



(3) An adequate exploration of the at present inaccessible 



forests, the identification of the several species, and the 

 quality of their timber, the opening out by means of trans- 

 port to render the several parts of the forests accessible. 



(4) The establishment of coniferous plantations on suitable 



areas in the accessible parts of the country, so as to avoid, 

 or at any rate reduce, the import of such timber. 



(5) The organisation of an efficient staff to do justice to these 



and other tasks. 



