East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-03-12
SOUTH AMERICA WILL SAVE FORESTS

South America is beginning to
show the world that she recognizes
the value of her natural resources by
taking up the question Of forest pres
ervation. The Republic of Colombia
has already outlined a forest policy
and now the people of the Argentine
Republic have taken up the discus
sion Of forestry and its application
to the management of the country's
rich hardwood timber areas.
Up to the present time the subject
of forestry has received but little con-
sideration in the various South Am
erican states. Most of these countries
have large areas of forested land, but
owing to the fact that they are so
remotely situated and that they are
composed mainly of broadieaf spe-
cies which are too hard for ordinary
building and construction lumber
and hence not in very great demand,
they have not as yet been extensive
ly numbered. AS an illustration OF
this might be cited the fact that the
small country of France furnishes
more saw material than does the
whole of South America.
Wasteful exploitation of the forests
of the Argentine Republic is increas-
ing, however, and their wanton de-
struction is beginning to attract at
tention there So far the destruction
more attention than that of forest
trees. The following is a quotation
from an article which recently ap-
peared in la Naciona" 'and was
translated by the "Buenos Aires Her
ald:"
1T is not only in the Province Of
Buenos Aires that the ancient tree
plantations are being destroyed; the
evil has spread to the remotest in
habited corners of the republic. In
a recent journey to and through the
provinces of the interior, have
found on every hand the effects OF
the savagely reckless telling of tim
Der and the censurable carelessness
OF the authorities who allow it. The
destruction is general, the finest spe-
Gins Of our Indigenous trees have
been ruthlessly sacrificed: not only
those Of spontaneous growth, but also
those planted by our ancestors on be-
half Of their posterity.
ITO make a beginning of my dis
comforting recital l will first men
ton that in La Riojo this senseless
war against nature has laid low large
plantations Of magnificent and high
ly productive orange trees, the fruit
of which is vastly superior to the i'm
portatlon from Paraguay here con-
sumed. Had these trees been prop
erly cultivated, the province would
now possess a source of wealth which
would havespared it the shame Of go
ing a-begging from the National Bud
get
IN Mendoza the olive trees, cult-
yated as far back as 200 years ago
by the Jesuits, have completely dis
appeared. There, however be it
said with satisfaction, there are men
OF the stamp Of Civit, Seru, and oth-
ers like them, who are busted with
plantations that promise to make
good the loss.
"In San Juan the telling has been
s,upidly prodigal, with the result
that not even half Of the plantations
remain which 80 years ago temper
ed its torrid climate and beautifled
its valleys.
In Santiago del Estero, Salta, Cat
arnarca and Juiuy there are signs Of
the same barbaric destruction which,
unless arrested, will soon leave those
provinces as bare as a maize field
that has been rayaged by the locusts.
"As for Tucuman, the Tucuman Of
poetic legends mentioned by Avel-
laneda, il is today almost unrecog-
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