38 MISC. PUBLICATION 16 2, U. S. DEFT. OF AGRICULTURE 



productive. Federal leadership should provide the general stand- 

 ards of forest practices needed to make sure that forest lands will be 

 left in condition to keep producing timber. The States could pre- 

 scribe the specific rules suitable for each region and see to it that all 

 timber cutting conformed to these rules. Direct Federal participa- 

 tion would be needed in those States which fail to enact and ad- 

 minister regulations consistent with the Nation-wide standards. 



Some 90 percent of our timber cut comes from private lands. Even 

 after the needed public acquisition is accomplished, private lands 

 will always remain the main source of timber supply. Despite ex- 

 cellent forestry practices by many private owners, the great bulk of 

 the private cutting is done without conscious regard for keeping 

 the lands reasonably productive. It is fully as important to stop 

 destructive cutting as it is to prevent destruction by fire, insects, and 

 disease. 



Not only must we stop further forest deterioration, but we have a 

 big job of rehabilitation to do on forest lands already depleted. 

 Millions of acres have been entirely deprived of the ability to reforest 

 themselves, and to bring them back to any degree of productivity man 

 must lend a hand by planting young trees. Millions of other acres are 

 now growing only a fraction of the timber they should, and their 

 productivity could be greatly increased by cultural work and im- 

 provements. 



Timber is a vital national resource. Wood is a basic raw material 

 without adequate supplies of which we would be unable to maintain 

 our present standards of living. New uses and demands for wood are 

 constantly developing. A conservative estimate places this country's 

 future requirements at 21% billion cubic feet a year. To sustain 

 production at this level we shall practically have to double our present 

 annual rate of timber growth. 



The vast extent of its forests has helped to make the United States 

 the great industrial nation it is today, but improvident and unregulated 

 exploitation has made severe inroads upon this source of prosperity. 

 The annual drain on our forests exceeds the annual growth. If this 

 continues, it will mean that eventually there will be serious shortages 

 of wood and other forest products. As forests will always be neces- 

 sary both to the economic and social life of this country, we must make 

 sure that they are kept green and growing. Nothing can replace them 

 as sources of industrial wealth, as conservators of water and soil, as 

 recreation grounds, and the home of wildlife and game. It will, 

 therefore, always be essential that the people of the United States 

 maintain a forest growth sufficient to meet the demands of the various 

 forms of forest use. To do this, our remaining forests must be used 

 wisely, and our depleted forest lands must be restored to productivity. 

 Only in this way can we expect to maintain for all time an adequate 

 portion of that forest wealth which has had such a vital influence in 

 shaping the destiny of the Nation. 



S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1950 



For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office 

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