54 REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMITTEE 



NEED OF FEDERAL AND STATE AID IN REFORESTATION ENTERPRISES 



The Opportunity 



THE National Conservation Commission in 1909 conservatively estimated 

 denuded lands in the United States in need of planting to be 65 million 

 acres, including that in natural forest regions and in treeless regions. 

 Unless reforestation on a large scale is entered upon, there will be but 

 little diminution in this area of denuded land in a hundred years. Each year's 

 delay in making the investment means a money loss represented by the growth 

 planted forest could be making on this immense area. At an estimated return of 

 only $1.00 per acre per year, this annual wood growth amounts to a yearly loss 

 of 65 million dollars to the nation. Within fifty years oui; virgin timber will be 

 gone and much of our second growth. To meet future needs of timber denuded 

 lands must be brought into productiveness. Reforestation on a large scale is 

 absolutely essential to the Nation's welfare. Both Federal and State action is 

 necessary to place reforestation on an adequate scale. Federal aid should apply 

 to States within natural forest regions having denuded and waste lands. Plant- 

 ing within prairie and plains regions serves almost wholly to benefit the individual 

 owner through furnishing domestic supply of farm materials and by protection 

 to the owner's crops. 



The Federal Government has adopted a definite policy in forest conservation 

 by creation, administration and management of the National Forests created from 

 public lands and more recently acquired in the East by purchase under the Weeks 

 Law. It has further provided for protection of stream flow, and thereby inci- 

 dentally for future timber supplies by financial aid to the States in protecting 

 forests on important watersheds from destruction by fire. 



The acquisition of waste lands by the Federal Government for National 

 Forests should be greatly extended and the present restriction limiting the acquisi- 

 tion of such lands to the watersheds of navigable streams removed, on the broad 

 basis of the public need for greatly increased wood production for the future, 

 regardless of State lines. 



The acquisition of similar lands by States should also be greatly extended. 



Federal aid should be extended to the States requiring it on the same plan as 

 it is for fire protection under the Weeks Law, namely, that the State appropriate 

 an equal sum for forest planting under a co-operative agreement with the Gov- 

 ernment. Expenditures should be restricted to the planting of non-agricultural 

 lands which have been classified by competent authorities. 



A 50-Year Plan for Nation and States 



A definite policy should be adopted both by the Federal Government and 

 the States for the next 50 years for reforestation on a large scale under as many 

 as possible of the plans outlined. Appropriations for this purpose may be 

 regarded truly as a valuable investment by the nation and the States, both of 

 which, because of their credit and the low interest rates obtainable, are able to 

 enter upon a long-time investment which cannot be undertaken by private capital 

 on any extensive scale. 



