ington is done in the eastern parts of the two States. 
The higher altitude forests, of much lower value for 
timber production and often of none, have much 
greater recreational appeal, owing to the fact that 
they are easily traversed, have openings in the 
form of mountain meadows, and afford splendid 
views of vast expanses of country. The national 
parks and national monuments, the various re- 
served areas on national forests, and an additional 
large acreage of national-forest land where no 
cutting is likely to take place for a long time to come 
are for the most part located at the higher altitudes. 
A large aggregate area of publicly owned forest 
land in this region is either entirely or partially 
reserved from timber cutting or other commercial 
use and dedicated to recreation. Mount Rainier 
National Park and Mount Olympus National 
Monument now total 564,000 acres, and have a 
total stand of 6.4 billion feet of timber all reserved 
from cutting.2 State parks total about 19,000 
acres, with a timber stand of about 161 million 
feet all reserved from cutting. 
The Forest Service has dedicated about 1 
million acres in the Douglas-fir region, chiefly 
22 The establishment of the Olympic National Park since 
these data were compiled will increase these figures by 
316,000 acres and 8.6 billion board feet of timber. 
of noncommercial forest types to recreational use, 
watershed protection, education, and _ scientific 
study, by establishing 5 large recreational areas, 
5 large primitive areas, and 4 small natural areas. 
These 14 areas have a stand of approximately 
7.5 billion board feet. 
tive and recreational areas, and also the national 
parks and national monuments, contain con- 
siderable acreages of large old-growth timber of 
commercial size and quality but of low economic 
availability due to location. ‘Table 39 shows the 
acreages, by forest type, and timber volumes in- 
cluded in the recreational, primitive, and natural 
areas. 
Recreational use of forest land need not always 
involve a complete ban on cutting. As new types 
The national-forest primi- 
of logging machinery and new logging techniques 
are developed and as better utilization is attained, 
many areas of medium or even fairly high recrea- 
tional value can undoubtedly be cut lightly without 
loss of recreational value. The total recreation 
area includes 710,000 acres listed in the survey as 
‘reserved from cutting’ and 417,000 acres on 
which some cutting might presumably be allowed. 
If economic conditions ever justify logging opera- 
tions on land of the latter category, the cutting, 
owing to the general location, will undoubtedly 
Tae 39.—Area, type classification, and timber volume of national-forest primitive, recreational; and natural areas in the Douglas-fir 
region 
a 
a Conifers | 
: | Noncommer- : 
State and recreational class Barrens cial types Total area Timber 
and burns | 20+ inches | 0-20 inches volume 
d. b. h. d. b. h. 
| 
Western Washington: Acres Acres Acres Acres Acres see ae 
Primitive Sin Satee St eee Tis 2 ea Ee Fes ee eee 134, 800 395, 400 166, 800 25, 600 722, 600 fa} 
Recreational 67, 600 56, 400 | 7, 100 225, 000 1, 337 
TN PY bigs eee ee Sano a a oO 100 4, 200 | 100 4, 400 190 
| 
Total es txn ste eer etal een eee rere 228, 700 463, 100 227, 400 | 32, 800 952, 000 6, 280 
Western Oregon: 
Primitive ase ie is Poe ee see Soe eee cee 13, 900 29, 600 31, 300 500 75, 300 383 
Recreational 25.22 = ae ae one eee 15, 200 20, 700 31, 200 | 31, 800 98, 900 745 
Naturales = 2 cio es Se ek Se ar ee Cee 200 O00 8 | =2eee ease eee 1, 200 57 
Total tes 2S se oe see eh ee eae eee 29, 100 50, 500 63, 500 32, 300 175, 400 1.185 
Region: 
Primitive Se aU a oe ee eee 148, 700 425, 000 198, 100 26, 100 797, 900 5, 136 
IRecreationale22 i=" .3 <i k= oe eS eee 109, 100 88, 300 87, 600 38, 900 323, 900 2, 082 
IN ature] e220 fos te See ee ee ae ee | 300 5, 200 100 5, 600 247 
| 
otal sea ac ie eos eee Se ee 257, 800 513, 600 290, 900 65, 100 | 1, 127, 400 7, 465 
| 
118 
