226 Russia. 
Conversion of protective forests to farm use is for- 
bidden, and the use of a clearing system, as well as 
pasturage and other uses supposed to be detrimental, 
may be interdicted. 
In forests, which are not protective forests, conversion 
into farms or clearing is permitted, if thereby the estate 
is improved, ¢. g. if the soil is fit for orchards and vine- 
yards; if fit for farm use, in which case, however, only 
temporary field use is permitted and the area is to be re- 
forested eventually; if another formerly farmed parcel 
of the same size has been reforested at least three years 
prior to the proposed clearing; if in artificial planta- 
tions the growth is not yet 20 years old, and in a few 
special cases where property boundaries are to be rounded 
off. 
The most interesting feature, because thoroughly dem- 
ocratic, is the creation of local forest protection com- 
mittees, which are formed in each province and district, 
composed of various representatives of the local admin- 
istration, one or two foresters included, the justice of 
the peace or other justice, the county council and two 
elected forest owners, in all nine to eleven members, 
under the presidency of the governor. 
This committee is vested with large powers. It decides, 
without appeal, what areas are included in protective 
forests and approves of the working plans for these as 
well as for the unreserved forests; it determines what 
clearings may be made and exercises wide police powers 
with reference to all forest matters in co-operation with 
the Forest Administration, which latter has the duty of 
making working plans, free of charge, for the reserved 
forests, and at the expense of the owner for the private 
