84 THE WOKLD OF LIFE 



retainers of moisture by the surface vegetation, checks to 

 evaporation by the shade of the trees, guards against torrential 

 rains, mud slides, snow slides where such are prevalent, and 

 protection against winds. On level or nearly level ground, 

 where such varied uses would not be required, similar belts 

 at greater distances apart should be saved for local uses and 

 amelioration of climate, besides " botanical reserves " of ade- 

 quate extent to give a representation of each type of vege- 

 tation in the country. 



I would also strongly urge that, in all countries where there 

 are still vast areas of tropical forests, as in British Guiana, 

 Burma, etc., all future sales or concessions of land for any 

 purpose should be limited to belts of moderate breadth, say 

 half a mile or less, to be followed by a belt of forest of the 

 same width; and further, that at every mile or half-mile, 

 and especially where streams cross the belts, transverse patches 

 of forest, from one to two furlongs wide, shall be reserved, 

 to remain public ]3roperty and to be utilised in the public 

 interest. Thus only can the salubrity and general amenity 

 of such countries be handed on to our successors. Of course 

 the general position of these belts and clearings should be 

 determined by local conditions; but there should be no ex- 

 ception to the rule that all rivers and streams except the very 

 smallest should be reserved as public property and absolutely 

 secured against pollution; while all natural features of es- 

 pecial interest or beauty should also be maintained for public 

 use and enjoyment. 



The great Eoraima mountain in British Guiana, for ex- 

 ample, with at least half a mile of forest around its base, 

 should, so far as w^e are possessors of it, be absolutely se- 

 cured; and generally, every important mountain summit, with 

 ample means of access, should also be reserved, so that they 

 may not be monopolised or defaced by the greed of specula- 

 tive purchasers. It should always be kept in mind that the 

 reckless clearing of large forest-areas, especially in the tropics, 

 produces devastation which can never be repaired. It leads 



