Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-09-15
FOREST PROTECTION.
LAWS FoRHIDpiNo TIE DESTRUCTION
OF TIMBER IN EUROPE.

Csvernmcnts Have Supervision Over fri-
vase ss Wen NJ National mnd Cosnmanai
Forests Rsforesting Carried ON BY Es-
tablished Departnents-
In Germany the various govcrnme ents
own and manage. i'm . conservative
spirit about one-third Of the forest
area, and they also control the manage
ment of another sixth, which belongs to
villages, cities and public institutions.
in so far as these communities are
Obliged % employ expert forestcrz and
must submit their working plans to the
government for approval. thus prevent
ting improvident aud wasteful methods
The other half Of the forest property.
In the hands Of private owners. Is man
aged mostly without interference. al
though upon methods similar to those
employed by the government. and by
trained fpresters, who receive their edu-
cation In one of the eight higher and sew
eral lower schools Of forestry which the
various governments have established
The several states differ In thess laws
regarding forest property. OF the pri-
vate forests 20 per cent are without any
control whatever, while 80 per cent are
subject 10 supervision. 30 far as clearing
and devastation are concerned.
The tendency ON the part Of tho gov
ernment has been rather toward persua-
sive measures Thus In addition tb buy
ing mp Or acquiring by exchange and re-
foresting waste lands-some 800, 600
acres have been so reforested during the
Last 25 years--the government gives as
sistance to private owners In reforesting
their waste land During the last 10
years $500, 900 was granted In this way
In Austria, by law adopted IN 1851,
not only are the state forests--compris
ing less than 80 per cent Of the total
forest area--rationally managed, and
the management of the communal for
ests-nearly 40 per cent-ofiicialiy su-
pervised. but private owners-holding
about SO per cent--are prevented from
devastating their forest property TO the
detriment of adjoiners. No clearing for
agricultural use can be made without
the consent Of the district authorities,
from which. however. an appeal to q
civil judge is possible. who adjusts the
conflict of interests
ANY cleared or cut forest must be re-
planted or reseeded within Ave years
On sandy soils and mountain sides clear
ing is forbidden, and only culling Of the
ripe timber Is allowed
In Hungary, also, where liberty OF
private property rights and strong OBJ
| lection to government interference had
been 1ealonsly upheld, a complete reac.
tion stt in some Is years ago, which led
| to the law of 1880, giving the state con-
| troll Of private forest property ID In Aus
| tria
Under q law adopted in Italy In 1888
the department of agriculture, In coop
eration with the department Of public
works and i'm consultation with the for
estal committee of the provinces and the
respective owners, Ia to designate the
territory which for public reasons must
be reforested under governmental con-
| troll.
| Tho owners may associate themselves
for the purpose Of reforestatiop and for
the purpose may then borrow money al
low interest from the State Soil Credi,
institution, the forest department con.
tributing three. fifths of the cost OF re-
forestation upon condition that the wori
Is done according to its plans and within
the time specified by the government.
In Russia until lately liberty to cut,
burn. destroy and devastate was unre-
stricted, but in 1883 comprehensive
and well considered law cut pff. 80 fal
as this can be done ON paper, this liberty
of vandalism. For autocratLc Russia
this law IL rather timid and sin the ma
ture Of q compromise between commu
nal and private interests, In which much
II not all depends on the good will oi
the private owner.
Al federal law was adopted in 6witzer
land In 1875 which gives the Moderation
control over the forests of the mountain
region embracing eight entire cantoni
and parts Of seven others, or over l, 900.
600 acres Of forest The federation itset
does not own any forest land, and thu
cantons hardly 100. 900 acres, somewha
over per cent Of the forest area, two
thirds Of which is held In commune
cwnership and the rest by private own
era
The federal authorities have supervi
sioh over all cantonal. communal ant
private forests, 30 far ~ they are PRO
tective forests, /" hat the execution Of th'
law rests with the cantonal authoritie
under the inspection Of federal officers.
In France not only does thu state man
ago Its own forest property. one-nintl
Of the forest area. In approved manner
and supervise the management Of for
ests belonging to communities and othel
public institutions. double the area O
state forests. In q manner similar 10 tn.
regulation OF forests In Germany. but &
extends In control over the largo area ol
private forests by forbidding any clear
Ing except with the consent of the fores
administration Century Magazine
II Great Ech~ue