38 MISC. PUBLICATION 162, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
productive. Federal leadership should provide the general stand- 
ards of forest practices needed to make sure that forest lands will be 
left in condition to keep producing timber. The States could pre- 
scribe the specific rules suitable for each region and see to it that all 
timber cutting conformed to these rules. Direct Federal participa- 
tion would be needed in those States which fail to enact and ad- 
minister regulations consistent with the Nation-wide standards. 
Some 90 percent of our timber cut comes from private lands. Even 
after the needed public acquisition is accomplished, private lands 
will always remain the main source of timber supply. Despite ex- 
cellent forestry practices by many private owners, the great bulk of 
the private cutting is done without conscious regard for keeping 
the lands reasonably productive. It is fully as important to stop 
See cutting as 1t is to prevent destruction by fire, insects, and 
isease. 
Not only must we stop further forest deterioration, but we have a 
big job of rehabilitation to do on forest lands already depleted. 
Millions of acres have been entirely deprived of the ability to reforest 
themselves, and to bring them back to any degree of productivity man 
must lend a hand by planting young trees. Millions of other acres are 
now growing only a fraction of the timber they should, and their 
productivity could be greatly increased by cultural work and im- 
provements. 
Timber is a vital national resource. Wood is a basic raw material 
without adequate supphes of which we would be unable to maintain 
our present standards of living. New uses and demands for wood are 
constantly developing. A conservative estimate places this country’s 
future requirements at 2114 billion cubic feet a year. To sustain 
production at this level we shall practically have to double our present 
annual rate of timber growth. 
The vast extent of its forests has helped to make the United States 
the great industrial nation it is today, but improvident and unregulated 
exploitation has made severe inroads upon this source of prosperity. 
The annual drain on our forests exceeds the annual growth. If this 
continues, it will mean that eventually there will be serious shortages 
of wood and other forest products. As forests will always be neces- 
sary both to the economic and social life of this country, we must make 
sure that they are kept green and growing. Nothing can replace them 
as sources of industrial wealth, as conservators of water and soil, as 
recreation grounds, and the home of wildlife and game. It will, 
therefore, always be essential that the people of the United States 
maintain a forest growth sufficient to meet the demands of the various 
forms of forest use. To do this, our remaining forests must be used 
wisely, and our depleted forest lands must be restored to productivity. 
Only in this way can we expect to maintain for all time an adequate 
portion of that forest wealth which has had such a vital influence in 
shaping the destiny of the Nation. 
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1944 
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office 
Washington 25, D. C. - Price 10 cents 
