Million 1982 dollars 
35 
30 
25 
20 
15 
1950 1955 1960 1965 
Federal 
1970 1975 1980 1985 
Figure 2.7—Federal and State expenditures for forest management assistance in the South, 1951-85. Forest management 
assistance includes Cooperative Forest Management and Rural Forestry Assistance 
Role of State Service Foresters 
Carrying out cooperative forest management programs of 
technical and financial assistance has required the develop- 
ment of a professional corps of foresters in the State, 
Federal, and private sectors. For example, in 1985 there 
were some 481 State professional ‘‘service foresters’? em- 
ployed in these programs in the South (app. table 2.15). 
Assistance to landowners and other groups has included such 
tasks as developing forest plans; marking timber for cutting; 
advising on practices to enhance timber growth and quality, 
such as release, thinning, fertilizing, and prescribed burning; 
and advising on timber sales, logging practices, and process- 
ing of forest products. State service foresters generally pro- 
vide a limited amount of assistance per owner per year, 
mainly to small owners who might not be able to afford 
consultants or qualify for industry-supported programs. 
60 
State and Federal foresters also have worked with the Soil 
Conservation Service in planning and conducting certain for- 
estry activities under the Watershed Protection and Flood 
Control Act of 1954. The Soil Conservation Service and 
Soil Conservation Districts have furnished some technical 
assistance in forestry in connection with farm planning and 
other conservation programs. 
Forest Industry Assistance 
Many companies in the forest industries have also provided 
technical assistance to private timberland owners. As early 
as 1939, the International Paper Company designated a num- 
ber of its field personnel to help other private owners in 
timber management and marketing. Most of the technical as- 
sistance came from pulp and paper companies and indus- 
trial groups such as the Southern Pulpwood Conservation 
Association, now part of the American Forest Council. 
