used effectively for more than one or for all of 
these purposes at the same time. In some areas, 
however, natural or economic conditions or critical 
situations call for restriction or exclusion of cer- 
tain uses. Everywhere some correlation and ad- 
justment are necessary to assure optimum benefits. 
This harmonizing of uses typifies forestry that ade- 
quately serves the public interest. 
TaBLeE 1.—Distribution of forest land of the United 
States, by section and region, 1945 
Section Total Non- 
and forest Commer- commer- 
region land cial cial 
North: j Million acres Million acres Million acres 
New England... 31.1 0.2 
Middle Atlantic. 44.2 41.6 2.6 
Walkers tera 55.7 50.3 5.4 
Central ... 44.9 44.2 af 
Plains ..... 35.8 3.3 32.5 
a Otallisie. ei ee 211.7 170.3 41.4 
South: 
South Atlantic... 43.8 42.9 9 
Southeast |........... 91.9 89.4 2.5 
West Gulf............ 51.1 50.9 oD 
Botalice eee, 186.8 183.2 3.6 
West: 
Pacific North- 
WESC hei hunts 53.9 46.2 ded 
California .......... 45.5 16.4 29.1 
North Rocky 
Mitrnias ee.) 53.2 29.1 24.1 
South Rocky 
IMitmaapre see 72.7 15.8 56.9 
sRotaleis oe: 225.3 107.5 117.8 
United States.............. 623.8 461.0 162.8 
The major aspects of multiple use may be briefly 
described as follows: 
1. Watershed protection.—An essential function 
of forests is to safeguard watersheds and their de- 
pendent water supply, power, and navigation fa- 
cilities. Forest cover helps to regulate stream flow 
and minimize floods. It also keeps priceless soil 
in place and out of streams, reservoirs, and harbors. 
The forest lands of the United States are well 
situated for watershed protection. About three- 
fifths of them are in the humid area east of the 
Plains. Here they are widely distributed, although 
the heaviest concentrations are in hilly or moun- 
tainous sections embracing the headwaters of 
most of the major streams. In the West the wooded 
slopes of high mountains and plateaus receive sev- 
eral times more rain and snow than the inhabited 
valley lands. ‘These remote forest highlands there- 
fore supply virtually all the ground water which 
Forests and National Prosperity 
feeds perennial streams. Without them the valleys, 
and indeed most of the West, would be an arid 
waste. 
At least three-fourths of the forest acreage has 
a major or moderate watershed influence, although 
misuse has greatly lessened the protective value of 
much of it. The other one-fourth—of minor in- 
fluence—includes deep sands, swamps, and overflow 
areas, and other lands of mild topography such as 
occurs in the Lake States and coastal areas. 
2. Grazing.—Forest lands furnish seasonal or 
year-round grazing for millions of domestic animals, 
which supply a substantial part of the Nation’s 
meat, wool, and leather. With proper management 
most of the forest range can be grazed profitably 
and in harmony with other uses. Unregulated 
grazing, on the other hand, destroys the forage and 
seriously impairs other forest values as well. 
More than half the forest land—about 350 million 
acres—is used for range. About 155 million acres 
of this is west of the Plains, where it represents 
nearly 70 percent of the forest land. An additional 
142 million acres is in the South, chiefly in the piney 
woods and mountain sections. Some 53 million 
acres is in the North, mainly hardwood forests on 
farms, where grazing is undesirable. 
3. Forest recreation.—Forest lands—widely used 
for camping, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor 
sports—afford a much-sought environment for en- 
joyment of nature and the esthetic. For many peo- 
ple, forests have inspirational and _ health-giving 
qualities that serve as antidote to the tensions of this 
fast-moving age. 
Many million people seek some form of forest 
recreation each year. The demand is strongly up- 
ward. This continues a long-time trend—only 
temporarily halted by the war—which modern trans- 
portation, increased leisure, and other factors have 
greatly accentuated. The forests are under great 
pressure to meet recreation needs. 
Most forest land has value for recreation. How- 
ever, the usable territory is limited to about 400 
million acres. Reasons for this, among others, are 
that the land is not accessible or its use for recrea- 
tion is hampered by ownership or management 
policies. Except for hunting and fishing, most 
forest recreation is concentrated on the relatively 
small acreage that is reserved for scenic and recrea- 
tional purposes. 
4. Wildlife production.—Much of our rich wild- 
life heritage—fish, furbearing animals, bird life, 
and big game—is closely identified with forest rec- 
15 
