The Daily Alaska empire., 1941-02-10

of three concepts considered to form the basis of the conservation movement" These are: "GD That soil, water, forest and wildlife conservation only parts of one nseparable program @ that wldlife must have environment suited to its needs if it is to survive; and C3) that any that is made of any living must be limited to not than the annual increase if the essential seed stock is to be continually available"
 If the country continues it's carelessness about soil forest animal and plant life, Dr. Gabrielson foresees future of increasing poverty. The process of conservation will be slow. Coupons cannot be clipped in six months, but the investment will be sound.
 Obviously, the question of how much land can
 turned back to forests is complicated by economic and social problems. For his suggested solution some might accuse pr. Gabrielson of undue par ,iahty for birds and beasts He writes "It could do harm for the future of this country if all of he original forested areas except the better lands leared for agriculture could be restored produc i've foess If that part of the original grasslands
 not suited to agriculture also restored for stock grazing and the production of meat and other lomestic-anmal products became greater than cur rent needs, the excess acreage could be devoted to the species of wildlife that require little and comparatively little expenditure of money On this oasis choice parcels of urban real estate might be tenanted by bears which, at least might compl- cate municipal tax problems
 The lay reader, however, is likely to find few objections to Dr. Gabrieson's program As he points out. forest areas properly managed, are far from unproductive economically. The yield from timber and furs in many instances would be greater fin ancialy than could be derived from the use of poor land for agriculture. Reckless deforestation has caused the loss of millions of dollars through floods The blowing of grasslands the Great Plains has led to disastrous dust storms. The pollution of streams by sewage and industrial waste has caused incalculabe loss of aquatic life The wholesale kill ing of game by hunters has endangered the exis- tence of some species For the solution of these difficulties Dr. Gabrieson suggests remedies which, unfortunately, may be slow of realization because of public inertia the opposition of shortsighted interests.
 As primary measure Dr. Ciabrielson points out, the nations soil must be rebuilt This restoration will also affect the water supply. Erosion will be essened and the danger of flood decreased Lakes and marshes, unwisely destroyed should be replaced and properly managed tor sane profit from fish and fur as well for recreation. "Sustaned-yeld forest management" which the book urges, would not only preserve forests provide steady cropping of timber thus supplying steady work to stable com nunities
 These subjects and their inter relationships are treated fully in the book, as are also such other matters migratory birds and their problems, non game birds and mammals, and vanishing species of wldfe predaor relationships, and wildife refuges and their place in conservation.
 Accomplishment of these objectives presupposes "an alert, intelligent conservation group in every community" a great popular understanding of the meaning and need of conservation, and continual research Toward the attainment of these objectives Dr. Gabrielsons book should prove valuable con- tribution.