14 MISC. PUBLICATION 247, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



exactly the same methods, but the basic idea is the same. It means 

 providing a constant, and a constantly renewed, supply of raw 

 material. It means stabilization of forest industries; perpetuation 

 of our forests by cutting only as much timber as can be replaced by 

 current growth (pi. 3). It requires adequate protection from fire, 

 insects, and diseases, of course. It uses such methods of cutting as 

 will damage young growth as little as possible. It insures future 

 crops either by leaving seed trees and young trees or by planting 

 where it is necessary to do so. 



Under sustained yield the timber requirements of the Nation, a 

 particular region, or a local community are figured over a period of 

 years; on a specific area or areas there is set up an annual harvest 

 which will yield raw material without diniinishing the future supply ; 

 mighty industries which in normal times employed some 1,300,000 

 people may in large measure substitute stability and security for 

 instability and insecurity, both for themselves and their workers. 



Unfortunately, there are as yet comparatively few lumber com- 

 panies which have been successful in prolonging their lives and those 

 of their dependent communities by practicing sustained-yield forest 

 management on forest lands in private ownership. 



WILDLIFE 



A large part of the wildlife in the United States, valuable for food, 

 fur, and hunting, or for aesthetic purposes, is found in our forests. 

 Its management in connection with other resources is an important 

 part of forestry. Wildlife directly interests more than 13,000,000 

 people who hunt and fish (pi. 4). It helps support many more, and 

 adds to the happiness of millions who are eager to catch glimpses of 

 wildlife in its home environments. 



Ever since the mythical days of Robin Hood, the welfare of wildlife 

 and forests has been closely linked. The relationship is as close as 

 ever in our own country today. On our forest lands where exploita- 

 tion and repeated fires have run rampant, the number of game animals 

 has decreased markedly. But on the national forests, where game as 

 well as timber and other resources have been used, but managed and 

 kept productive for 30 years, the number of game animals increased 

 100 percent within the period 1921-33. In fact, as exploitation has 

 continued in the West, ranges used by big game have been so restricted 

 that now almost 75 percent of the total western big-game range is 

 within the federally owned forests. 



On most of these national forests the numbers — and in many cases 

 the species — of wild game may be increased still further by adequate 

 game management. It will not be sufficient, to accomplish this pur- 

 pose, just to remove the causes which have led to destruction or 

 decimation of wildlife species. More constructive action than merely 

 enforcing the game laws is necessary. Modern game management 

 must also devise ways and means to make more favorable environ- 

 ments and thus produce more, and more varied, wildlife. It must, 

 for example, build dams — as has been done on the Coconino Plateau 

 in Arizona — to impound water and provide nesting and resting places 

 for migratory birds and make possible the introduction of fish in 

 areas where there were neither birds nor fish before. 



Modern game management also envisions the introduction of species 

 of game animals in localities from which they have previously been 



