The National Forests of California Miscellaneous Circular No. 94

THE NATIONAL FORESTS OF CALIFORNIA

By ROBERT W. AYRES, Forest Examiner, and WALLACE HUTCHINSON, Assistant District Forester, Forest Service

FORESTS AND PUBLIC OPINION

After a quarter century of effort by the conservationists, the problem of providing for adequate protection and wise use of forests and forest land in the United States is still one of the most pressing problems of the Nation. This problem can not be solved in its entirety by foresters and landowners. Public opinion must be aroused. The destructive use of the forests which created the present situation has been tolerated partly because of lack of general understanding of the results of unwise lumbering methods and of letting fire burn the woods. There is great need to-day for the public to become acquainted with the forests in a more intimate way, to know something of their extent and productivity, their relationship to the economic and social life of the Nation, and their consequent claim to direct interest on the part of every citizen in their wise use and perpetuation.

In the following pages the national forests of California are described and an account is given of their value to the public welfare and of the means and methods used by the United States Forest Service to make them contribute as much as possible, both now and in the future, to the prosperity and well-being of the people of the State and the Nation.

CALIFORNIA'S GREATEST NATURAL RESOURCE The national forests of California cover nearly one-fifth of the total area of the State and contain resources valued at $300,000,000 (F—200732)