RESOLTJTIOlirS ON FORESTET 



The resolutions referring to forestry and adopted by the Fifth National 

 Conservation Congress are as follows: 



Deploring the lack of uniform State activity in forest work, we emphatically 

 urge the crystallization of effort in the lagging States toward securing the crea- 

 tion of forest departments with definite and ample appropriations to enable the 

 organization of forest fire work, publicity propaganda, surveys of forest re- 

 sources, land classification and general investigations upon which to base the 

 earliest possible development of perfected and liberally financed forest policies. 



We recommend in all States more liberal appropriations for forest fire pre- 

 vention, especially for patrol to obviate expenditure for fighting neglected fires, 

 and the expenditure of such effort in the closest possible cooperation with Federal 

 and private protective agencies; and also such special legislation and appropria- 

 tion as may be necessary to stamp out insect and fungus attacks which threaten 

 to spread to other States. 



Since Federal cooperation under the Weeks' act is stimulating better forest 

 protection by the States, we urge annual appropriation by Congress for its con- 

 tinuance. 



We recommend simplifying and shortening the process of purchasing land 

 under the Weeks' act. 



We recommend that the Federal troops be made systematically available for 

 controlling forest fires. 



We recommend the work of the Federal Forest Service in protecting and 

 improving the forest resources under its control, also in developing better methods 

 of forest utilization, and urge our constituent bodies and all citizens to insist 

 upon adequate appropriations for such work and to combat any attempt to break 

 down its efficiency. 



Holding that conservative forest management and reforestation by private 

 owners are very generally discouraged or prevented by our methods of forest 

 taxation, we recommend State legislation to secure the most moderate taxation 

 of forest land consistent with justice and the taxation of the forest crop upon 

 such land only when the crop is harvested and returns revenue wherewith to 

 pay the tax. We call attention to the recent adoption of such system by several 

 States. 



We appreciate the increasing support by lumbermen of forestry reforms and 

 suggest particularly to forest owners the study and emulation of the many 

 cooperative patrol associations which are doing extensive and efficient forest 

 fire work and are securing closer relations between private, State and Federal 

 forest agencies. Believing that lumbermen and the public have a common object 

 in perpetuating the use of forests, we endorse every means of bringing them 

 together in mutual aid and confidence to this end. 



Recognizing the practical constructive work which has been done by the 

 Phillipines Bureau of Forestry, we urge that no change be made in jurisdiction 

 or policy which would result in any setback to forestry in the Phillipines. 



We recommend the holding of expositions in various parts of the country 

 which demonstrate the vital importance of maintaining our forest resources and 

 which will more fully educate the public to the manifold uses of forest products. 



