14 MISC. PUBLICATION 2 49, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



management and care of their timber. In this project the Department of 

 Agriculture cooperates with the States in the maintenance of extension 

 foresters to provide demonstrations and advice on the more efficient manage- 

 ment of farm woodlands, the reforestation of those farmlands not now 

 suitable for agricultural crops, and the marketing and utilization of farm 

 timber. 



Under the Cooperative Forest Management Act of 1950, the Forest 

 Service cooperates with the States in providing on-the-ground technical 

 advice to owners of private forest lands and to processors of primary forest 

 products. In 1953, 262 projects in 38 States were carried on in cooperation 

 with State foresters. 



Forestry in the States 



Forestry work in the States has made notable progress in recent years, 

 and most States now employ foresters in various capacities. The State 

 forester usually carries heavy responsibilities as directing head of a large 

 organization and has under his control the annual disbursement of large 

 appropriations. 



The character of a State forester's work varies among the States. Where 

 forestry is just beginning to receive attention, his first efforts must be largely 

 of an educational and organizational nature. His chief task is to develop 

 a forest policy for the State and to educate the people to protect and improve 

 the handling of the forests within its borders. He must study the needs of 

 the State and then go before the people and show them what must be done 

 to put into effect the policy which he has formulated. He usually has to 

 make a great many public addresses, issue bulletins, write articles for maga- 

 zines and newspapers, and in every other possible way bring this message 

 to the people. He must also obtain basic legislation and appropriations 

 in addition to engaging in technical forestry work. 



On the other hand, in those States where there is already a settled 

 forestry policy the State forester's work is of a different character. His 

 major activities are usually fire prevention and control, forest planting, 

 educational work, and management of State-owned forests. 



Scope of Sfate Forestry Work 



In the aggregate, some 27 million acres of land are in State forests. The 

 type of administration given these State-owned lands varies. Many State 

 forests are managed intensively, along lines similar to national-forest man- 

 agement. Some State forests and parks are devoted primarily or entirely 

 to public recreational use. In some States, substantial areas of State forest 

 land — particularly scattered tracts which have come into State ownership 

 through tax delinquency — has as yet received little attention. 



State activity in protecting forests from fire, with the cooperation and 

 financial aid of the Federal Government, has opened a field for the em- 

 ployment of many foresters. Trained men are also used in the propagation 

 and distribution of planting stock. In those States where an active State 

 forestry program has been developed, a number of trained foresters are 

 employed. The State forester's staff may include technical assistants in 

 immediate charge of the various lines of activity carried on by the State 

 organization. District foresters or State forest rangers may be assigned 



