ment of the forest resources represents the only hope for permanent 

 relief of underemployment problems. 



These forest conservation programs apply to a portion of the Na- 

 tion's economy that is of basic and growing importance. The capital 

 values of forest land and timber alone amount to an estimated $30 

 billion. The 100,000 establishments primarily engaged in the manu- 

 facture and merchandising of forest products have an invested capital 

 of at least 820 billion. Substantial and increasing investments in 

 water development, in forest recreation enterprises, in sporting goods 

 firms, and in livestock production, for example, likewise rest upon 

 continued management and development of forest resources. 



In the years ahead, expanded development and use of all natural 

 resources will be necessary to match the steady growth of population 

 and consumer demands, and this will greatly increase both the capital 

 values and the flow of national income and employment related to 

 forestry. Thus the program for the National Forests and National 

 Grasslands, covering 186 million acres, will produce cash receipts of 

 some 8230 million annually within a few years, plus much larger but 

 intangible benefits from the various multiple uses of these public lands. 

 Similar benefits will accrue to forest owners and consumers from devel- 

 opment of other Federal, State, and private forest lands. 



In the timber economy alone the values now produced amount to 

 more than 825 billion annually, or about 5 percent of the Nation's 

 gross national product. More than 3*4 million workers are employed 

 in the growing, manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of forest 

 products. With the help of research, this large and growing timber 

 business can be expanded to far higher levels to meet the rising 

 requirements of the 350 million people expected in the United States 

 by the year 2000. 



Research on regeneration and management of timberlands will help 

 restore to productive condition the 110 million acres of commercial 

 forest land that is now idle or of limited productivity in the United 

 States, exclusive of Alaska. Breakthroughs in protecting forests from 

 fire, insects, and diseases will make available to our expanding 

 economy billions of board feet of sawtimber that is now lost annually 

 to destructive agents. Development of new consumer products, new 

 uses of wood, and better utilization of timber will support higher living 

 standards for all consumer groups in the Nation. Thus, as in other 

 segments of our economy, investments in timber production and uti- 

 lization research will pay off in expanded national income and higher 

 levels of employment for a growing labor force. 



Forest and related ranges provide a substantia] part, and in the 

 West often a critical part, of the economic base for the domestic live- 

 stock industry. Research on ways of improving and managing these 

 forest and related ranges will aid directly in meeting the future needs 

 of the Nation for livestock products. 



In addition to these direct contributions to national income and 

 employment based on commercial enterprises, more productive forest 

 resources will also provide far-reaching intangible benefits. 



Water, for example, already is of immeasurable value to agricul- 

 ture, industry, and consumers in every part of the Nation. Yet by 

 the year 2000 water requirements are expected to he three times those 

 of today. Research to develop improved watershed management 

 practices will help conserve and build up soil productivity, extend and 



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