Marcel Leloup
Marcel Leloup, first Director of FAO's Forestry Division, reviewed the first decade of forestry activities in the tenth-anniversary issue of Unasylva. Formulating a global policy applicable to nations differing geographically, politically, culturally and economically was an arduous task which evolved slowly. Objectives and a plan of action converged into a consolidated forest policy. Here are some highlights.
To supply an expanding world economy with useful forest products, in the qualities and quantities adequate to sustain the general welfare: such, in very broad terms, was the objective that the Quebec Conference of 1945 laid down for FAO.
Taking all facts into account, the Forestry Division soon realized that its general programme of action had to be concentrated on four basic aims. These four aims were and continue to be:
a.
Increase in the yield from forests now being used. Even in the most advanced forestry countries, it is admitted that such an increase is possible, either by applying sound forest management methods or by a wider use of techniques that research has improved, is now improving and will further improve in the future.
b. Reduction of waste. This means not only the waste occasioned by the primary conversion of wood but also the waste from logging operations, including trees and species abandoned because there is no economic use for them for the time being. In this field also considerable progress can be made.
c. Opening up of virgin forests. The bringing into use of forests hitherto inaccessible takes place almost automatically when, as in Canada or the USSR, the forests will provide timber of high economic value, especially softwoods. It is a much more difficult proposition in tropical regions where there are extensive forests, because it entails being able to make effective use of the timbers that occur, then the setting up of industries capable of processing them, and often human colonization of the areas involved.
d. Planting of new forests Apart from any economic considerations, the establishment or re-establishment of forests on areas dangerously subject to erosion is a sheer necessity. But locally for some communities, on the national level for many countries, and regionally for some continents, as the studies carried out by the Division in the past ten years have shown, the planting of new forest is essential to meeting foreseeable increases in wood consumption.
In view of the goals to be achieved, the Forestry Division drew up a 15 point plan of action. Formulated in 1951, it still remains valid. The points corresponding to the Division's 15 lines of activity, can be summarized as follows:
1.
Forest policy. Advising governments in drawing up and implementing national forest policies in keeping with the relative economic importance of forests in each country, a policy aiming at the conservation and proper utilization of forest resources and the rational development of the corresponding forest industries.
Coordinating national forest policies on the international level, through the action of FAO's Regional Forestry Commissions and ultimately the FAO Conference.
2. Forest inventories. Advising and assisting governments in planning and carrying out national forest inventories, so as to obtain more accurate and internationally comparable data.
Collecting the statistics thus obtained for the preparation and publication of regional and world estimates to serve as a basis for the coordination of national forest I policies on the international plane.
3. Forest economics and statistics. Working out standard estimates of the costs of forest enterprises and operations and assembling data so as to make it possible to compare different methods of conducting such enterprises economically and to calculate the prime cost of the various forest products.
Assembling, compiling and regularly disseminating statistics on forests and forest products with a view to providing governments objective, comprehensive and up-to-date data. Improving national statistics by the introduction of more I reliable assembling methods.
4. Education. Advising and assisting governments in creating public opinion alive to the importance of forests and forestry in the national economy.
Establishing the necessary facilities for the education of foresters and technicians and for the training of subordinate forestry personnel, and forest and industrial workers.
5. Soil and water conservation. Bringing about a general recognition of the essential function of forests and grasslands in streamflow regulation and in soil conservation,
Advising governments so that they can draw up national policies of land use, particularly the use of forested and "wild" lands forming the greater part of catchment (watershed) areas.
6. Conservation and improvement of forest ranges (grazing land). Advising and assisting governments to adopt sound policies for the utilization and conservation of the vast areas which, while serving as natural grazing lands for livestock, play a great but too often disregarded role in protecting farmland and regulating streamflow.
Close coordination of such policies with forest policy.
7. Silviculture and forest management. Advising and assisting governments in applying appropriate silvicultural methods to all forests playing a protective or productive role, or fulfilling other important functions.
Promoting forest research: studying and spreading techniques to assure an increase of growth in forests and improvement of the quality of forest products.
8. Afforestation and reforestation. Encouraging research work and assisting governments to ensure the extension of forests on bare or depleted land, in conformity with the aims defined in each case by the national forest policy.
Improving and spreading modern techniques for the establishing or restocking of forests by planting or seeding, adapted to the various conditions of soil and climate.
9. Forest protection. Assisting governments in devising administrative and technical methods to control fires, pests and diseases.
Encouraging the conclusion of international agreements to control the spread of these destructive forces.
10. Equipment. Promoting the introduction of useful modern equipment for the efficient and economic utilization of forest resources and the industrial processing of their products.
Assembling information from equipment manufacturers and analysing and publishing it in appropriate forms. Encouraging manufacturers to produce machines and equipment that fully meet forestry requirements.
Improving the conditions of forest workers.
11. Modernization and integration of forest industries. Encouraging in all countries a gradual conversion of forest utilization into a suitably planned integration of forest industries with forest management; this entails forest management on a sustained-yield basis so that the forest can supply continuously an optimum group of industries with produce of specific qualities and in specific quantities.
Improving and modernizing existing industries to give increased yields from all phases of operations.
12. Chemical utilization of wood. Promoting research in the field of wood chemistry.
Advising and assisting governments in setting up new industries, in applying modern techniques and in generally improving the chemical utilization of forest products; often such utilization constitutes the only economic possibility of exploiting mixed forest stands or low-grade timber and the residues from logging and mechanical processing operations.
13. Mechanical utilization and standardization. Seeking a more rational mechanical utilization of timber.
Facilitating trade in forest products, particularly by the standardization of export contracts.
Endeavouring to bring about general agreement on the standardization of terminology, measurement, sizes, grades and testing of industrial wood and primary forest products.
14. Production and distribution policies. Keeping a constant check on the current situation regarding the production of and trade in primary forest products and promoting action on the international level, to the extent possible, to adjust available supplies to demand.
15. Stimulation of consumption. Promoting action on the international and national plane to raise consumption of forest products to a level that will ensure for all peoples of the world adequate housing and an adequate standard of living.
