The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1949-03-03

Publication No. 66s. Copies of the
report are available from the Of
flee of P. D. Hanson, Regional For
ester, Missoula, or through any for
est supervisors or rangers office.
After several sections devoted to
forest land and timber resources,
and how they are being managed,
the report discusses the raw ma
lterial supply and wood waste prob
lens of the major forest industries.
| Watershed, range, recreational and
wildllfe uses and services are con
ISldered in relation to timber supply
and forest management. Another
section IS devoted to forest protec-
/ ton from fire, insects and disease.
/ and the report concludes with a
discussion of how forest ownership
affects the outlook for improvement
in the nations forest situation.
Separate reports covering the var
iouS individual phases of the re-
appraisal, the most extensive study
Of the country's forests ever made
have been issued previously.
Warning that IF the United
States is to maintain a place of
economic leadship in the world of
tomorrow, it can i'll afford to tenn
pOrize with its forests, the report
declares not only that the saw tim
her is declining under the impact of
an annual cut which together with
natural losses is so percent greater
than current annual growth but
also that its quality is deteriorating.
AT the same time, the summary
says, indications are that the ma
tons long-range potential timber
requirement IS considerably greater
than the present annual cut, espec-
tally If prospective new uses for
wood, export and backlog for ma
tlonal security are taken into ac-
count These overall needs include
dependable timber supplies suffi-
cient ito sustain and expand the |
supply of consumer good and en- |
ployment in the wood industry" to |
provide for national security, and |
to contribute TO international |
peace and well-being" through help |
ing meet world timber needs in
time of shortage.
Setting a long-range. flexible
goal, the report suggests that if
these needs are to be met the
country should aim to grow from
10 to 20 billion cubic feet of all
timber, including from IS to 70 bill
ion board feet of saw timber. a
'ear. At present annual growth is
1ut at IS billion cubic feet of all
inber, including IS billion board
eet of saw timber. However. the
eport states that even, if good forest /
protection, management, and prac- !
ices were generally applied to
american forests within the next
ew years it would still take sew {
raj decades before this growth s
oal could be achieved. {
TomorrOw's wood supply is in {
ne forest trees growing today. but s
or the nation as a whole. accord T.
lg 10 the report, the forest grow il
lg stock is below par in quantity, !,
Jaiity and distribution, while 1854 h
iillion acres of the country's com
.erclal forest area, or IS percent. is o
'eforested or has less than 40 per f
mt of full stocking" And the fur fl
er the longtime depletion which q
'oduced this condition is allowed f
60 unchecked the more difficult q
ri costly becomes the Job of put 2
1g the forest resource in shape to r,
eet the nations need. e.
The report recognizes substantial r.
'ogress in forestry. both public CT
I'd private, in recent years. There 81
ample evidence, especially in the st