The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15
ARGENTINA BEGINS
TO GUARD FORESTS.
South American Republic Is
Awakening to Danger of
Exploitation
Huge Areas of Hardwood Still
Remain and Will Be
Conserved
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL
WASHINGTON. March i4.-South
America is beginning to show the
world that she recognizes the value
of her natural resources by taking UP
the question of forest preservation.
The republic of Colombia has already
outlined a forest policy and now the
people of Argentine have taken up
the discussion Of forestry and It's ap-
plication to the management of the
country's rich hardwood timber areas.
Formerly the subject of forestry re-
ceived but little consideration in the
various South American states. Most
of these countries have large areas of
forested land. but they are so remotely
situated and composed mainly of
broad leaf species, which are too hard
for ordinary building and construction
lumber and hence not in very great
demand, that they have not as yet
been extensively numbered. AS an IL
lustration of this might be cited the
Iact 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-
struction is beginning to attract at
tentior there. So far the destruction
of valuable fruit trees has received
more attention than that of forest
trees. The following is a quotation
from an article which recently ap-
peared in La Nacion,' and was trans
lated by the "Buenos Aires Herald:
DESTRUCTION Is GENERAL
TT is not only in the province of
ifae hot n hn +ree
plantations are being destroyed; the
evil has spread to the remotest in
habited corners of the republic. In
recent journey to and through the
provinces of the interior / have found
on every hand the effects of the saw
agely reckless telling of timber and
the censhrable carelessness of the au-
thorities who allow it. The destruc-
tion is general, the finest specimens
of our indigenous trees have been
ruthlessly sacrificed: not only those
of spontaneous growth but also those
planted by our ancestors on behalf of
their posterity-
ITO make a beginning of my dis
comforting recital, 1 will first mention
that in La Rioja this senseless war
against nature has laid low large
plantations of magnificent and highly
productive orange trees. the fruit of
which is vastly superior to the i'm
portation from Paraguay here CON
sumed. Had these trees been prop
now possess a source of wealth which
would have spared it the shame of
begging from the national budget.
In Mendoza the olive trees culti-
waited as far back as 200 years ago by
the Jesuits, have completely disap-
peared. There, however, be/it said with
satisfaction, are men of the stamp
of Civit, Seru and others like them,
who are busted with plantations that
promise to make good the loss. In San
Juan the telling has been .stupidly
prodigal, with the result that not even
half Of the plantations remain which
80 years ago tempered its torrid eli
mate and beautified its valleys.
LIKE RAvAGED FIELDS
In Santiago del Estero, Salta cata-
marca and Jujuy there are signs of the
same barbaric destruction. which, un-
less it is arrested, will soon leave those
provinces as bare as a maize field that
has been ravaged by the locusts.
"As for Tucuman, the Tucuman of
poetic legends mentioned by AVella-
media, it is today almost unrecognizable.
/ 1t would no longer be true 10 repeat
his words where he says: The orange
and lemon tree, which produce in rich
abundance flowers and fruit, perfuming
| the ambient-air, feeding the inhabitants
and affording them a house and a
home, are the most beloved by them as
the emblem of the felicitcus union of
/ the useful and the beautiful. No; even
/ the famous and magnificent orange
trees of the city plaza have disappeared
/ to make way for more pretentious
plants that, unfit for the climate and
j inappropriate for the spot, cut the fee-
BILE and sorry figure Of weakened and
saplesS consunptives."
From the destruction of the fruit
orchards to that of the forests is but
step, and the people are already wax
ing up to the fact that they must take
measures to protect their enormous
and valuable forest resources. The work
1 of the United States government along
this line is attracting attention there
and is being watched with considerable
1 interest.
| One writer points out the laws of the
| United States, Canada and British In
dia and, commenting on the fact that
the usefulness of forests is now admit
ted, goes on to state that the lack of
suitable forestry laws to prevent the
wasteful exploitation of the forests
WILL If continued, witness the total de-
struction of the immense forests of
valuable woods of the republic So
| far, the damage done is comparatively
slight.
The enormous lumber resources of
| the country are, with few exceptions,
as yet practically untouched, and
Argentina has splendid opportunity to
show its wisdom and foresightedness In
this matter by. taking action before it
| is too late. The progress of the for
estry movement there will certainly be
watched with great interest in this
country.