Protection From Other Damage 



Kodent control work for the short-term period will be aimed at 

 control of the most serious infestations of harmful rodents, such as 

 porcupines and mice, on high- value areas of forage and commercial 

 timberlands. These areas comprise about half of the total area of ro- 

 dent infestation on the national forests. Approximately 1.8 million 

 acres of rangelands and 9.4 million acres of timberlands would be 

 treated in this period. Control would be limited to those rodents for 

 which economical means of control are known. 



Roads and Trails 



The road and trail system which serves the national-forest lands is 

 a complex of highways and access roads and trails under various 

 ownerships and jurisdictions. This transportation system is vital to 

 the multiple use of all the resources of the national-forest system. 



For administrative purposes, the road and trail facilities are grouped 

 into a forest highway system and a forest development road and trail 

 system. All these facilities benefit the national forests. There are 

 now 24,400 miles of forest highways ; 149,700 miles of forest develop- 

 ment roads, and 112,200 miles of trails. When fully installed, there 

 will be about 70,000 miles of forest highways ; 542,000 miles of access 

 roads, and the trail network will be reduced to about 80,000 miles. 



The forest highway program is administered by the Bureau of Pub- 

 lic Koads in the Department of Commerce. The forest highways are 

 therefore not included in the program herein outlined. 



An adequate system of roads and trails is essential to proper manage- 

 ment of forest lands. The presence or lack of access roads has a direct 

 and controlling influence on many phases of forest management, such 

 as the volume of timber that can be marketed ; the size, duration, and 

 distribution of sales within working circles ; the level of salvage cut- 

 ting; protection of national-forest resources from fire, insects, and 

 disease; and recreational and forage use. 



Financial losses occur every year to the Federal Government through 

 inability to market mature timber now inaccessible but in need of har- 

 vesting, and to promptly and completely salvage losses resulting from 

 fire, windstorms, insects, and diseases. As the road and trail system 

 is expanded the revenue to the Government increases, primarily 

 through expanded timber sales. Timber access roads for the national- 

 forest system are investments which will pay their own way over a 

 period of years. 



The long-range objective is to have and maintain a system of roads 

 and trails to service the national forests adequately at the levels needed 

 to meet expected demands. Such a system will not only make that pos- 

 sible, but will at the same time enhance the value of the timber and 

 other resources being utilized. 



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