Fifth Session of the FAO Conference
European forestry and forest products commission
Fifth Meeting of the ECE Timber Committee
Timber equipment loans
Forestry education
Yearbook of forest products statistics 1949
The Fifth Session of the FAO Conference was held at Washington, D. C. from 21 November to 6 December, devoted its attention principally to a review of the world food and agriculture situation, with particular emphasis on problems of surplus commodities, and to the expanded program of technical assistance for economic development.
The Conference rejected the proposal for an International Commodity Clearing House put forward by the Director-General and, instead, established an FAO Committee on Commodity Problems, an advisory body composed of the representatives of 14 governments to give attention primarily to surplus commodity situations arising from balance of payment difficulties. The Conference declared that commodity agreements, where practicable, provide the best method for dealing with current surplus commodity situations or with those which might arise in the near future. In the long run, it was felt, main reliance for dealing with the disequilibrium in world production and trade should be placed on technical assistance for economic development.
The Conference endorsed FAO's full participation in the expanded program of technical assistance for economic development as worked out by the United Nations and the specialized agencies. It gave general guidance to the Director-General as to priorities for the various types of projects and authorized him to carry on preliminary work so as to enable FAO to proceed immediately when special technical assistance funds become available. The priorities recommended were:
First. Measures to secure early increase in the production of food and other requirements of local populations of which there are two main groups: (a) Short-term projects, and (b) Medium-term projects which would begin to give results in the early stages, e.g., training personnel and the development of extension methods.Second. Measures which would result within the foreseeable future in an appreciable increase in the external income of the countries seeking assistance, e.g., the economic development of natural resources which might result in increased export, reduce the need for such imports as can be economically produced in the country, and generally assist the creation of favorable conditions for investment and the expansion of trade.
Third. Long-range projects, mainly in the research field.
Where several projects are presented in any of the above categories and are considered to be of equal importance, priority should be given to projects of value to more than one requesting country.
All the types of activities listed by the Director-General under "forestry and forest products" were considered appropriate, but priority was accorded to:
1) Organization and execution of forest inventories,
2) Education and training of forestry personnel,
3) Organization of governmental forest services,
4) Reforestation, in the broadest sense of the term,
5) Correct land use, with special reference to problems of shifting cultivation,
6) Industrial aspects of forest development,
7) Organization of forest co-operatives.
This order of priority is to be regarded as flexible and subject to adjustment in the light of the special circumstances of the countries putting forward requests for assistance.
Early in the session, the Conference established three commissions to carry on its detailed work. These were Commission I - World Review and Outlook (Chairman, Viscount Bruce of Melbourne Independent Chairman of the FAO Council); Commission II - Technical Activities of FAO (Chairman, Mr. Louis Maire, Switzerland), and Commission III - Constitutional, Administrative, and Financial Questions (Chairman, Mr. B. R. Sen, India).
The 1950 program of the Division of Forestry and Forest Products was subjected to a very detailed and competent examination by a special working panel of 22 delegates representing Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Finland, Greece, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. Mr. E. Saari, leader of the Finnish delegation, was elected Chairman of the panel, and Mr. D. T. Griffiths (Burma) served as Rapporteur.
The panel's report, which was later adopted by the Conference recorded satisfaction with the achievements of the Division and with the methods of work developed over the past three years; approved the progress towards decentralization that had been achieved in line with the recommendations of earlier FAO conferences and, in particular, commended the organization of the regional Commissions for Forestry and Forest Products in Europe, Latin America, and Asia and the Far East. Believing that the work of these Commissions should be adjusted to the needs of each region, the Conference decided not to lay down formal terms of reference. In Europe the present arrangements regarding the division of activities between FAO's European Commission for Forestry and Forest Products and the Timber Committee of ECE were regarded as satisfactory and called for no modification so long as the Timber Committee of ECE continued to carry out the program adopted at its Fifth Session.
As regards forest policy, the Conference endorsed the general recommendations of the Third World Forestry Congress and recommended that a statement of basic principles of forest policy, now being prepared by the FAO secretariat be submitted for consideration to the 1950 sessions of the regional Commissions and subsequently, with their comments, to the next session of the FAO Conference
During the two and a half week session, the Conference decided by a small majority to establish FAO's permanent headquarters in Rome. It is not expected however, that the move can take place before 1951 when the accommodations to be made available by the Italian Government will have been completed.
The Conference admitted five additional countries to FAO membership, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, and Sweden, bringing the total membership to 63. Belgium, Burma, Pakistan, Yugoslavia, United Kingdom and Venezuela were elected to serve on the 18 nation FAO Council (World Food Council) in place of retiring members. The Conference adopted the principle of biennial rather than annual sessions, and decided that the next session should be held at headquarters in April 1951, unless the Director-General or the FAO Council should decide that circumstances demand holding a Conference in November 1950. The Conference however, rejected a proposal that, as a regular procedure, its sessions should be held in the spring rather than in the fall as in the past.
The Conference also authorized the Director-General to proceed with the establishment of an appropriate regional organization for Latin America, in agreement with member governments in the area and in consultation with the Organization of American States. It was decided to keep the regional office for Asia and the Far East in Bangkok, Thailand, until the end of 1951, the question of location beyond that time to be reviewed during the next session of the Conference
A revised scale of contributions for member governments was approved 80 as to bring the total income of the Organization to $5 million rather than to approximately $4.6 million as heretofore. Finally, the Conference adopted Spanish as a third working language in addition to English and French, although it postponed its introduction until the first session of the Conference following the establishment of FAO at its permanent headquarters.
At the first session of the European Forestry and Forest Products mission, held in 1948, representatives of eighteen countries submitted statements on the progress achieved in the carrying out of their national forest policies. An analysis of the trends revealed in the statements was included in an article published in UNASYLVA, Vol. III, No. 3.
The second session of the Commission, reported in UNASYLVA, Vol. III, No. 6, requested member governments to present information every year on developments in their national forest policies and in their current forestry programs to serve as a basis for discussions by the Commission. A summary of the latest statements made to the Commission in this connection is given below.
Austria
There is no longer any shortage of forest workers, and the expanded program of road construction is making possible the exploitation of many forest areas hitherto inaccessible. Restrictions on consumption of forest products have been removed, and the free availability of coal supplies has reduced the excessive use of wood for fuel. The number of forest co-operatives has increased, and a national organization has now been established.
Czechoslovakia
Control of insect infestations appears to be achieving success. Although about 10 percent of the timber felled at present consists of trees damaged by Ips typographus, there is no longer any danger of this bark beetle multiplying to a dangerous degree. To fight the nun moth, Lymantria monacha, 21 airplanes and 30 ground sprayers have been used in 1949 over eight different districts totaling 7,500 hectares The forests of Czechoslovakia are still suffering from the effects of the 1947 drought: About 36 percent of the 1949 cut will be drought-killed timber. With this experience in mind forest policy is encouraging the establishment of mixed forests According to the current Five-Year Plan 76,000 hectares of land not in agricultural use, mostly on watersheds, are to be afforested by 1953. To make forestry as a profession more attractive, training centers are being set up where young men may receive two years' training in all branches of forestry and become qualified forest workers. The most promising pupils are selected for further training in forestry schools.
Denmark
The Government has investigated the cutting possibilities for an area covering 74 percent of the total forest area. It is estimated that the annual cutting rate of timber (exclusive of fuelwood) can gradually be increased during the coming 25 years to a volume 50 percent above the cut of 1947.
France
Particular reference was made to the results of the insect infestation in spruce, and the disastrous fires of the past summer in the Landes district. The outcome of the foregoing is that, whereas in 1939 France was importing about 50 percent of her softwood requirements, there has now arisen a need for disposal of five million cubic meters of softwood, which must be sold in the immediate future. This situation places a heavy burden on the French timber markets and, at the same time, presents a serious danger for the future when the "possibilité" must inevitably be reduced.
Germany (Bizone)
The forest resources census of 1946 was carried out hurriedly and is not reliable. A revised census is now being conducted, including all forests down to two hectares. During the two years 194547, fellings amounted to 75 million m³, or approximately 240 percent of the increment, and 50 percent of the cut was utilized as fuelwood. In 1948, fellings were reduced to 30.6 million m³ or 197 percent of the increment. Fuelwood amounted to 37 percent of the cut. For 1949 the planned cut amounted to 154 percent of the increment. Considerable progress had been made in the reforestation of clear-cut areas, and latest reports indicate that, given sufficient funds, the areas needing replanting will have been reduced to normal in three to five years. Mechanization of all operations is developing. Seed provenance and genetics are strictly controlled and enforced. Damage caused by the larvae of Melolontha vulgaris is causing concern in young plantations and nurseries. Research is largely directed towards raising the productivity of forests by intensive soil studies, improved silviculture, the use of fertilizers, introduction of fast-growing exotics, and genetics. Utilization of waste and avoidance of waste in logging and conversion are also receiving much attention.
Germany (French Zone)
Active measures are being taken for an early reforestation of areas devastated as a result of bark beetle infestations and of overcutting carried out even before the Occupation. In this reforestation, the previous German practice of establishing pure stands is being replaced by one of mixed plantings of hardwoods and softwoods. A corps of forest engineers is being developed through the training of students at the Freiburg University. Forestry scientific societies are becoming active again and are establishing relations with similar bodies in other countries.
Ireland
The total of new plantations created to date by the State Forest Service since its inception now amounts to 124,162 acres (50,248 ha.). Planting was restricted during the war years but has since expanded; 7,927 acres (3,208 ha.) were planted in 1948/49. The State Forest Department has embarked upon a surrey of the entire country to ascertain what lands would be more profitable under forestry than under their present use as rough grazing. The Government is, at the same time, embarking upon an extensive scheme of land reclamation sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and it will be a matter of consultation between that Department and the State Forest Service to determine whether certain lands should be the subject of reclamation or be dedicated to forestry.
Immediate steps are being taken to increase the present area under nurseries from 300 to 900 acres (121 to 364 ha.) and sufficient seeds have been ordered to meet the estimated requirements.
The present intake of trainees into the State Forest School at Avondale will be insufficient for future needs, and enlargement of the premises and accommodation must be undertaken at a very early date. Higher education in forestry will be a matter of consultation with the Department of Agriculture and the Faculty of Agriculture in the National University of Ireland.
At present, no special provisions are made for research, but such will be increasingly necessary in order to discover the relation of individual species to specific soil conditions in nurseries and plantations.
Norway
Felling of commercial timber increased from 6.4 million m³ in 1947/48 to 7.5 million m³ in 1948/49. The use of bulldozers for the building of access roads is expanding. Reforestation and afforestation activities are also increasing.
The improvement of living conditions for forest workers has continued, and better homes and forest camps have been built. Power saws are sold by the Government to forest workers at a low price. The courses at the special school for forest workers have been extended from four to five weeks. The extra time has been used for studying power saws. Lectures are also given by a physician in the right use of body, limbs, and muscles in the cutting and peeling of timber. A film has been made by the Norwegian Forest Society contrasting an ordinary forest worker with an efficient worker.
A specialist on forest genetics has been appointed at the Forest Research Institute of Norway. Work on an inventory of valuable stands and elite trees has been commenced. At the Institute a very thorough investigation of different types of power saws has been carried out, and the results are being published. Some experimental work has been done on the transportation of timber by cable.
Forest fire insurance is undertaken by the Norwegian Mutual Forest Fire Insurance Company, which was established in 1912. The insurance company gives compensation for damage to young forest stands not yet mature for felling and also for damage sustained by the forest soil.
Originally, the forest owners obtained the necessary operating funds - for their annual fellings in the form of advances from the purchasers of timber.- However since the establishment of their own sales association in 1929, the forest owners have made themselves independent of credits or advances from the purchasers. With the aid of the Bank of Norway, the necessary funds have been placed at the disposal of the Central Agency agricultural Operating Credits. Here, the various sales associations, and also forest owners not belonging to such associations, are able to obtain credit on their timber contracts at a reasonable rate of interest, 2.5 percent per annum at present.
United Kingdom
Planting has been carried out in pursuance of the approved program, and has reached 80 percent of the agreed target figure for the years since 1946. The field work of the census of woodlands has been completed, and volume computations are in progress. It has been necessary to continue fellings at a rate far greater than the estimated "possibilité" but for 1949 there has been a reduction in the amount licensed for felling, and this quantity is to be still further reduced in 1950. Thinning has been accelerated in the State plantations in order to make an increased contribution to current needs, and has been encouraged in the private woodlands. Improved terms have been offered to private owners who are prepared to "dedicate" their woodlands, and there has been steady development in research by all agencies; the research at present undertaken includes that into mechanization of forest operations.
The Timber Committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) held its 5th Meeting in Geneva from 19 to 23 September, 1949. Representatives of the following countries took part in its deliberations: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands Norway, Sweden, Poland, Switzerland United Kingdom, United States of America, and Yugoslavia. In the absence of the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman, the Committee unanimously elected Dr. Anton Ceschi (Austria) as Chairman for the Session. The Secretariat was provided by the joint FAO and ECE staff.
The Committee heard a statement from Mr. Gunnar Myrdal, Executive Secretary of ECE, in which he outlined the Secretariat's views with regard to the major items to be discussed during the session. The figures and facts assembled by the Secretariat appeared to point toward the following three conclusions:
(a) Europe's production of softwood timber, including the U.S.S.R., continues to be somewhat below effective demand.(b) There are no signs of a European softwood surplus and even certain indications that the gap between European supplies and demand might grow slightly larger than it has been for the past 18 months.
(c) After some reduction, especially for the lower grades, at the beginning of the year, timber prices have shown a firm tendency. However, a further adjustment of timber prices to the level of the competitive materials might well be in the interest of the timber trade and might be facilitated through a reduction in roundwood values which has already begun. Price reductions for timber are likely to be smaller than for commodities such as coal and steel.
Mr. Myrdal suggested that these conclusions should be checked and discussed by the Committee, since "every standard of softwood bought from Canada or the United States of America increases the European dollar deficit." Because under present circumstances European governments are "compelled to keep the dollar cost of Europe's timber bill as of other commodities, to a minimum "the basic objective of the Committee should be "to take whatever action is possible to raise non-dollar supplies to the maximum which can be attained without raising the cost to European consumers above that of dollar timber." Alternatively, or in addition, the Committee might have to promote through more rational use of timber a reduction in effective demand, without sacrificing quality standards of performance.
The present equilibrium between European timber demand and supply had been achieved on "a very low level." There still exists "a very serious housing shortage which not only threatens the welfare and social stability of many European countries, but which also interferes with economic recovery. Insufficient and obsolete houses and wrong geographic distribution of workers' dwellings continuously interfere with the productivity of Europe's industries. Sooner or later construction programs of substantially greater magnitude than present building activities will become necessary, if we want to achieve economic and social stability."
In considering the factors in the present timber market and supply situation and those expected to affect the future situation, there is great urgency in providing immediate outlets for the exceptional timber availabilities caused by forest fires in France. Once the exceptional supplies created by fire have been absorbed, the effect will be to reduce France's annual softwood production over a number of years and to add a corresponding amount to her import needs. Looking beyond 1950, this factor should not be overlooked.
Three measures - absorption of French fire timber, "timber equipment" loans, and more rational utilization of wood - might be sufficient to keep the European timber situation in equilibrium for the next year or two. At the same time, it could be agreed that even the combined effects of these measures would not be sufficient to close Europe's timber gap beyond that period. "I would not be surprised if by 1951, or shortly thereafter, the difference between Europe's production and effective timber demand might run anywhere between 300,000 and a million standards a year and thus call for an annual expenditure of from 50 to 150 million dollars, if all this difference had to be met from North America," Mr. Myrdal said.
He then suggested that the Committee review the conclusions of FAO's Preparatory Conference on World Pulp Problems, which was held last spring in Montreal, for they revealed a number of difficult problems with regard to Europe. In newsprint today the situation is comparable to "hunger amidst plenty." FAO and other United Nations agencies were constituted to prevent such a paradox. The principles in the report of the Montreal Conference for the long-term development of the pulp industry could be paraphrased as follows:
1) Wood pulp should be produced as close as possible to the forests from which the pulpwood is drawn.2) Whenever possible, the manufacture of pulp and paper should form a continuous process in order to avoid extra cost and high waste. In accordance with this principle, there should be a decreasing trade in wood pulp and an increasing trade in paper and other finished products.
These ideas cannot be put into effect overnight, but if European countries meeting within the framework of ECE, would co-operate in order to reach these two economically rational objectives through a gradual process of adjustment this would constitute a very important contribution towards the improvement of Europe's economy.
Under a resolution of the Commission the Committee would have to decide what, in its judgment, the Committee might do, in the light of economic prospects after 1950, to advance the broad purposes of the Economic Commission for Europe in the field of timber and forest products. Problems of prices and market structure in different industries are the most important and difficult matter before all the bodies of the Commission.
"On the one hand," Mr. Myrdal continued, "long experience has fully clarified the danger to economic progress and to our standards of life in market arrangements of a cartel character, whether they are private or governmental in form. We clearly do not want to move in that direction. On the other hand, there are certain concrete market problems in the field of timber which may be capable of solution by international agreement. We must strive to consider these problems in ways which positively contribute to the economic well-being of Europe, the steady expansion of its trade, and the more economic use of its resources.
"You may decide that the supposedly automatic adjustments of the market will suitably protect the interests of producers and consumers, leaving the Timber Committee to study and watch the market, intervening occasionally problems arise. On the other hand, you may wish to explore the potentialities of more positive international action, whether in the form of commodity agreements or otherwise, to deal with marketing problems on a different basis."
In summing up, Mr. Myrdal said: "I have always regarded the collection of statistics and the promotion of technical improvements as, so to speak, the floor of the activities of our Committees. Next come periodic reviews of the situation and outlook, consisting in an exchange of information about plans and forward estimates by delegates meeting regularly in committees. If such reviews reveal the need for further action, committees provide ideal frameworks for the negotiation of multilateral European trade and production agreements, because of their official status as United Nations bodies. Indeed, the lack of secrecy which characterizes such UN negotiations, and the feet that delegations consist of both officials and businessmen, representing producing as well as importing countries makes it possible to reach arrangements which serve the interests of Europe rather than that of any special pressure group. Such arrangements constitute not only desirable media for action to stabilize Europe's economy, but probably the safest protection against the revival of monopolistic cartels of the prewar pattern."
After reviewing in detail the European softwood situation, the Committee concluded that "European exporting countries may expect to sell all the softwood available for export in 1949, while importing, countries would thus be able to cover practically their entire effective demand." The Committee also concluded that "if present estimates proved correct, there should be no danger of a timber shortage in 1950."
The Committee stressed the feet that a substantial change in the European softwood situation might occur when the exceptional timber supplies resulting from forest fires in France have been absorbed. It stated that the "importance of increasing export supplies of softwood for 1951 and beyond therefore remains unchanged. "
Pitprop Situation. The Committee reviewed the European pitprop situation and concluded that there might be a surplus of approximately 210,000 cubic meters in 1949. It was of the opinion that the pitprop situation in 1950 should not present any serious problems. Nevertheless, it considered that this situation should be kept under careful review. -
Wood Pulp. The Committee noted the report of the Preparatory Conference on World Pulp Problems held in Montreal in April 1949 and concluded that "the information available at this time to the Committee regarding the international pulp situation as it affects Europe called for no action by the Timber Committee." The Committee's report states that "this conclusion was unanimously accepted by the Committee, but certain delegations added... reservations."
French Forest Fire Timber. The Committee heard a detailed report from the French representative on the French forest fire disaster and was unanimous in expressing its sympathy to the Government of France. It noted the figures giving the extent of the damage and the feet that for a year or two its effect would be to transform France from a country normally covering half of its softwood needs by imports to a substantial exporter of softwoods.
In accordance with the desire of the French delegate, the Committee merely noted that negotiations had been initiated with several countries for the disposal of the softwood which France is compelled to export. The Committee expressed its willingness to review the matter further should present efforts of the French Government to sell its timber surplus meet with difficulties.
Brazilian Timber Development. The Committee noted the information presented by the Secretariat regarding the possibilities of future softwood supplies from Brazil, expressed interest in the project and the wish to be kept informed about its progress. It assumed that Brazilian producers and exporters would examine the marketing possibilities for their woods in the normal manner. Delegates expressed the hope that Brazilian industrialists would utilize European experience and woodworking machinery.
Future Work Program. Finally, the delegates, in a discussion of the future work program of the Timber Committee, agreed unanimously that the continuing existence of the Committee was "obviously necessary, both in the interests of producing and consuming countries, and, in view of the importance of the timber problem in the economy of Europe." A recommendation to this effect would be passed to the full Commission, with the suggestion that the Committee's terms of reference should be:
1) To continue the collection and publication of adequate statistics on primary forest products.2) To publish periodic analyses of the timber market situation in Europe.
3) To keep the position of the principal forest products such as sawn softwood and pitprops under close review and to make such recommendations to governments as it may deem necessary as a result thereof.
4) To pay particular attention to the possibilities of the more rational utilization of wood.
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development has granted two loans totaling $5 million to the Republic of Finland and the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia to assist them in developing their timber resources. The loan to Finland is for the amount of $2.3 million and the loan to Yugoslavia for $2.7 million.
These loans are two of a series considered in connection with the so-called timber equipment project developed by FAO, the Timber Committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and the International Bank.
The loans, which are to be used to finance the purchase of timber-producing equipment, are expected to increase returns from timber production and exports by several times the amount of the sums advanced. The borrowers undertake to export specified quantities of timber at reasonable prices, and will enter into agreements with European importing countries that pledge the latter to pay dollars for a part of their timber purchases - enough, in short, to ensure repayment of the Bank loans which run for only two years. Yugoslavia intends to make such agreements with the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and Italy; Finland, with Belgium, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.
Loans of this kind are the sort of sound, productive investment that the Bank was created to provide. Though small, they will provide the recipients with the dollars needed to develop their own timber resources and supplement the deficiencies of western European countries. At present, European importing countries are forced to restrict their timber consumption to about half prewar levels, though their need of timber for reconstruction has increased. They have had to rely heavily on imports from North America for these inadequate supplies at a heavy cost in dollars. Through increases in the production and export of timber from eastern Europe, dollars will be saved, since the price of timber shipped from the Western Hemisphere is much higher than the prices that would produce profits for European exporters. Thus the loan will not only provide the aided countries with funds for expanding their productive resources but will also reduce Europe's dollar deficit by helping to stimulate a revival of trade between eastern and western Europe.
These two loans provide a heartening example of the potential multiple benefits to be derived from small capital investments in productive machinery, provided they are carefully selected. Shortages of equipment and obsolescence machinery have been major factors in reducing the timber output of European exporting countries. The need for more and better equipment has also been increased by the depletion of the more accessible forests during the war years and the consequent necessity of opening up remoter areas. With the five million dollars of equipment bought with the World Bank loans, it is estimated that the annual increase in the amount of timber exported by Yugoslavia and Finland alone would, if imported from the United States and Canada, cost about 25 million dollars. And those increases are, of course, expected to continue long after the Bank loans have been repaid.
The loan agreements were signed on 17 October by the President of the International Bank, the Minister of Finland in Washington, and the Yugoslav Ambassador. FAO's Director-General and Deputy Director-General witnessed the agreements, and the Director of the Forestry and Forest Products Division attended the formal signing ceremony.
An informal meeting of experts on forestry education, held on the occasion of the Third World Forestry Congress was briefly noted in UNASYLVA, Vol. III No. 6. The purpose of the meeting was to secure an exchange of views which would assist FAO in furnishing basic directives to countries contemplating the establishment of forestry schools for the first time or wishing to expand their educational facilities.
The following notes summarize the opinions expressed by the experts attending the meeting.
1) Affiliation of a new forestry school with a university
It is recognized that it is by no means essential for a forestry school to be affiliated with a university.
Affiliation with a university, however, does offer certain advantages such as established laboratories and library facilities, various other buildings, professors for non-specialized subjects, opportunities for students to take courses outside their special fields, etc. These advantages are especially important in the ease of a new school with only moderate resources at its disposal, but some of them can be obtained without affiliation of the school with a university, if both are situated in the same locality.* It should be pointed out, however, that affiliation with a university, or rather, integration of the degrees awarded by the school with the scheme of university degrees is of a certain value to students who, after they graduate from this school, wish to pursue their studies for an advanced degree in a specialized forestry science. It also has a value as conferring a certain status on forestry as a branch of science and a profession. The value of such an affiliation also depends to a large degree upon the educational background required of students before admittance to the school.
* It is not always possible to secure this contiguity, since it is important for the school to be near a moderately large forest where instruction and some research can be conducted.
2) Educational background of students and length of studies
The length of studies at the forestry school depends to an important degree upon the educational background required of the students admitted.
If students have only a high school education, they must necessarily acquire during their stay at the school the general scientific background on which their later technical training will be based. In such instances, three to four years' attendance at the school is essential. In this ease, the affiliation of the new school with an existing university is of considerable advantage.
If the students have already completed college or university-level scientific training, the forestry school becomes an applied science school, and the course of study can be reduced to two years.
In some countries where applied silviculture is of long-standing practice, one year of practical experience either with or without supervision by the school is required before enrollment in the school. This one-year requirement of practical experience permits a certain selection of students; those who have started to work in a field for which they are not suited can be eliminated. This requirement does not appear necessary and may indeed not be possible, particularly in new countries but this type of practical initiation must be given in forestry schools before students graduate.
3) Number of teachers and students - specialization of professors
The minimum number of teachers required (for solely technical subjects) should not be less than three, and the various fields of forestry sciences should be divided among them as follows: 1 teacher of Silviculture (covering the influences exerted by forests and forest protection), 1 teacher of Forest Economics (including forest management), 1 teacher of Wood Utilization.
It is highly desirable, however, that the school should have either a greater number of teachers than this or else some assistants. Apart from reasons to be mentioned later, it is important that the staff should not be constantly absorbed by their teaching duties. They should have a certain amount of free time for personal research work to enable them to keep abreast of advances in scientific knowledge generally and in the science of forestry in particular. Obviously, the optimum number of teachers, as the school grows, depends on circumstances.
There is no rigid minimum requirement as to the number of students with which a school could be started and maintained. However, the establishment of a school for a very limited number of students only twelve per year for example, would render it an extremely expensive enterprise which could be run on a profitable basis only with great difficulty.. This difficulty, which arises when the number of students is too small, can be overcome to some extent by providing for enrollment once every two years. Should the number of students be too small, there is also a danger that the faculty may lose interest in the undersized classes, and the stimulus which each student exerts on the rest of his class will not be fully developed.
On the other hand, the number of students should not be too great in relation to the number of teachers, particularly in field instruction. For such work, it is estimated that one instructor per ten students is needed. If this number is exceeded, a sufficient number of assistants should be provided.
4) Organization of schools by foreign teachers - training of the first teachers abroad - FAO assistance
Even in Europe, some forestry schools have been organized and started by teachers not native to the countries where the schools were established. The country concerned thus benefited from the past experience of others. However, this can only be a temporary solution, and the country's own teachers may first have to go abroad to receive training.
The consensus of opinion was that it would be advantageous to employ both methods simultaneously.
Special responsibilities devolve upon schools enrolling foreign students, particularly those intending to become teachers in their own countries. In ease of inadequate or wrongly-directed training, an entire generation of foresters may suffer in consequence.
American teachers who have had a large number of foreign students in their classes have noted a certain number of difficulties which they have encountered with such students. These include:
a) An inadequate knowledge of the language in which instruction is offered.b) Inadequate financial backing of some students to enable them to pursue their studies under proper conditions.
c) Insufficient preparation in chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics.
d) No clear conception on the part of Home students of the nature of the profession of a forester or of the work in the particular branch of this profession in which they intend to specialize.
e) Enrollment at such schools by many students because of a desire to immigrate into the country where they are being trained.
f) No clear conception of the normal study routine on the university level and inability or unwillingnes of some students to accommodate themselves to university conditions.
g) Enrollment by some students in schools which cannot give them proper training.
Work already undertaken by FAO and UNESCO will give useful help towards meeting many of these difficulties. Even after this work has been completed however it must be kept carefully up-to-date.
In the training of teachers abroad special care should be taken to ensure that they become familiar with their future duties as educators. From the standpoint of the country sending its students abroad, it would be valuable to have them distributed among several schools, so that the country will eventually benefit from the application of methods best adapted to its own particular requirements.
As regards the foreign student himself, it would be advisable to have him extend his training period either by visiting and taking courses at more than one foreign school or by pursuing further studies subsequent to the regular training period in the form of personal research or preparation for an advanced university degree. The value of this period of additional training for future teachers was particularly emphasized.
It is to be noted that when the first foresters of the Indian Forest Service were trained at the National School for Waters and Forests of France, arrangements were made for these students to take a six-month course in the French Forest Service itself before enrolling at the school for the regular two-year course. During this six-month period, they became acquainted with the practical work of this service while familiarizing themselves with the language in which instruction was to be given.
It would be extremely valuable to facilitate the exchange of teachers among forestry schools of various countries, and FAO can play an important role in this connection.
5) The curriculum
a) General curriculum and specialized courses When a school is founded, there is no need, at the outset, to consider offering several different curricula including specialized courses in several fields of forestry science and technology. A general, uniform curriculum followed by all students seems adequate.However it is most important that such a curriculum should avoid separating Silviculture proper from wood utilization studies.
It is undesirable to attempt to cover too many branches. Depending on the situation in each interested country, certain special features should occupy a more important place in the curriculum For example, in countries where the relatively pressing problems over vast areas are reforestation, flood control, and soil conservation the curriculum should emphasize, particularly, pedology and the protective utility of forests.
b) A plan for a general curriculum including applied science courses. For the above-mentioned reasons, it is impossible to formulate a fixed typical curriculum for a new school in advance. Curricula depend essentially upon local conditions in the country concerned.
It has been suggested that, before the founding of such a school, it would be useful for the school officials to contact specialists in the field of forestry education, either directly or through FAO. These specialists would gladly assist with advice as to how to establish a suitably balanced curriculum
Sufficient emphasis must be given to applied science courses in a curriculum Aside from the practical work given during these courses, a continuous or discontinuous one-year period of field work is desirable and a minimum of three months is absolutely essential If this period is comparatively brief, the work performed by the students should be directly supervised by the school. If the period is of a longer duration, students may be allowed a certain amount of liberty.
One of the greatest difficulties with which schools may be confronted is that too many students will enroll who have no knowledge of the requirements of their future profession and who are incapable of assuming such responsibilities. It is absolutely essential that such students be eliminated before graduation.
6) Libraries, laboratories, and other facilities
As regards facilities which a new forestry school should have available, stress is laid on the need for a forest. This should belong to the school, and be as extensive as possible, at least of adequate size for teaching requirements. The forest should also be located in the vicinity of the school itself. This last requirement is sometimes rather difficult to fulfill, but at least transportation facilities providing access to the forest should be available.
In addition to the necessary equipment for microscopic observations, laboratories should have suitable accommodations for seeding experiments, sowing experiments soil analysis, etc. They should include a biology laboratory which may be simple but must be adequate for the number of students contemplated, a drafting and mapping room, particularly necessary in new countries where surveying and sampling work will assume a dominant role in the work; and, finally, a museum with a room for the preparation of collector's items.
Adjoining the forest to be used for instruction purposes, there should be a tree nursery and, if possible, an arboretum.
The school should also have a wood workshop for simple working of wood objects, which is essential in order to illustrate the subject matter of wood utilization.
It should also, naturally, have the usual equipment and instruments used in forestry work, i.e., compasses, calipers, tape measures, etc., as well as surveying and sampling instruments adapted for teaching purposes, and models similar to those ordinarily used in forestry operations
Finally, the school should have buildings suitable for the installation of a library, and provision should be made at the outset for the future expansion of such a library.
The third FAO Yearbook of Forest Products Statistics has now been published. Prepared by the Division of Forestry and Forest Products as part of its regular statistical services, the Yearbook presents information for the years 1947 and 1948 reported to FAO by over 100 countries and non-self-governing territories.
The 1949 volume contains 43 tables on the production, trade, and consumption of roundwood commodities, lumber, plywood, sleepers, wood pulp and pulp products. Included are summary tables of exports and imports by volume and value and calculations of consumption rates, on a per caput basis, for total roundwood, fuelwood, industrial wood, lumber, and wood pulp.
The FAO program for forest products statistics has yielded results which must be considered encouraging. But, although it has produced a larger body of timely and consistent international statistics than has previously been available, these statistics must still be interpreted with caution. Many countries are as yet unable to supply the needed information and many of the figures reported are known to be only rough estimates. Therefore better information to be received in the future may modify present conclusions.
The highlights of these conclusions, drawn from the statistics reported to FAO, are summarized in the text which precedes the tables of the Yearbook. Some of them are given below.
ROUNDWOOD OUTPUT
World output of roundwood in 1948 is estimated at 1,440 million m³® or 1,000 million metric tons. This is about 0.6 percent greater than in 1947 but 3 percent above 1937, a high prewar year. 1
1 In Yearbook of Forest Products Statistics - 1948 the output for 1947 was estimated at 1450 minion m³® In the light of information now available, world output of roundwood in 1941 is estimated at 1,427 million m³® The estimate for 1937 given in the FAO report Forestry and Forest Products - World Situation 1937-1946 (published in 1946) has also been revised downwards to 1,383 million m³® or about 1,400 minion m³®.
A breakdown of roundwood output in 1948 as compared with 1947 shows the variations in production in different regions of the world:
|
Region |
Estimated 1948 output |
Change from 1947 | |
|
|
Million m³® |
Percent | |
|
North America |
360 |
-0.3 | |
|
South and East Asia |
298 |
-0.7 | |
|
U.S.S.R. |
280 |
-1.8 | |
|
Europe |
265 |
+6.0 | |
|
Latin America |
150 |
- | |
|
Africa |
51 |
+2.0 | |
|
Oceania |
21 |
+10.5 | |
|
Near East and North Africa |
11 |
-8.3 | |
|
|
TOTAL |
1.438 |
+0.6 |
Sixty-three percent of the world's roundwood output in 1948 came from the northern belt of forests, mainly coniferous, stretching across Europe, the U.S.S.R., and North America. The great tropical forest belt, mainly broadleaved crossing Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, produced only 34 percent of the roundwood output.
Wood in the world economy
Output of roundwood is compared with world output of some other basic commodities in the following table:
|
Commodity |
Estimated 1948 output 1 | |
|
|
Million m.t. |
Percent of prewar 2 |
|
Coal and lignite |
1,500 |
110 |
|
Roundwood |
1,000 |
103 |
|
All grain |
545 |
117 |
|
Crude petroleum |
406 |
166 |
|
Crude steel |
153 |
113 |
|
Natural fibers |
11 |
89 |
1 SOURCE: United Nations, World Economic Report, New York, 1948.
2 Grain and fibers: 1935-38 = 100 - other commodities: 1937 = 100.
Round wood categories
Data for 1948 reported to FAO cover about 56 percent of the estimated world output of roundwood. The percentage breakdown of these reported figures by categories is shown against the corresponding percentages for 1947 in the following table:
|
|
1948 |
1947 |
|
(Percent) |
||
|
Sawlogs and veneer logs |
38 |
39 |
|
Pulpwood |
13 |
13 |
|
Pitprops |
3 |
2 |
|
Poles, piling, and posts |
2 |
2 |
|
Hewn sleepers |
1 |
1 |
|
Fuelwood, etc |
43 |
43 |
|
|
100 |
100 |
Roundwood output may also be expressed in terms of primary products. On this basis the estimated total world output for 1948 breaks down into:
|
|
Percent |
|
Lumber |
23 |
|
Wood pulp |
8 |
|
Other industrial wood |
12 |
|
Fuelwood |
57 |
|
|
100 |
Output per hectare
The following figures show regional averages for roundwood output in 1948 per hectare of accessible productive forest: 2
2 Data for forest areas taken from the FAO report Forest Resources of the World, Washington, 1948.
|
|
m³ ® |
Metric tons | |
|
Europe |
2.5 |
1.8 | |
|
South and East Asia |
1.8 |
1.3 | |
|
North America |
1.2 |
0.8 | |
|
U.S.S.R |
0.9 |
0.6 | |
|
Oceania |
0.9 |
0.6 | |
|
Near East and North Africa |
0.7 |
0.5 | |
|
Latin America |
0.4 |
0.3 | |
|
Africa |
0.4 |
0.3 | |
|
|
AVERAGE |
1.0 |
0.7 |
This average is a low figure. In certain areas, particularly tropical Africa and Latin America, the per hectare output could be several times the average in the temperate zones, it is now substantially less.
It is to be noted that Brazil, the British Commonwealth, the U.S.S.R., and the United States of America hold responsibility in the aggregate for over 85 percent of the world's productive forest area, including those parts which are still unexploited. A substantial rise in forest output could therefore be effected by a relatively small group of nations.
WOOD CONSUMPTION
Total supplies of wood available for consumption in 1948 are estimated to be 4 percent greater than before the war. On a per caput basis they are still 6 percent below 1937, owing to population increases.
INDEX NUMBERS OF WOOD SUPPLIES AVAILABLE PER CAPUT
|
Region |
1948 |
1947 |
|
|
(1937 = 100) |
|||
|
Europe |
89 |
90 |
|
|
U.S.S.R |
91 |
86 |
|
|
North America |
99 |
100 |
|
|
Latin America |
82 |
84 |
|
|
Africa |
97 |
96 |
|
|
South and East Asia |
89 |
90 |
|
|
Oceania |
168 |
157 |
|
|
|
WORLD AVERAGE |
94 |
94 |
Consumption standards appear to be above or near the prewar level only in North America and Oceania. They are still below prewar levels in most of the world, and are in feet deteriorating in several underdeveloped countries.
There are naturally wide variations in the rates of wood consumption of different countries. The rate is over 4 m³® per person in Finland and Canada around 2 m³® in Norway, the United States, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand; around 1 m³® in Switzerland Chile, Uruguay, Southern Rhodesia about 0.5 m³® in France United Kingdom, and Japan; around 0.26 m³® in Ireland, Turkey, Venezuela and Malaya. Consumption in Egypt, Colombia, Ceylon, and India is very small.
Consumption of industrial wood is significantly greater in North America Oceania, and Europe, which contain 24 percent of the world's population, than in the so-called underdeveloped regions which hold 68 percent of the world's people. Many of the underdeveloped countries use wood mainly for heating and energy production, although wood as ordinarily used is not an economical fuel.
WORLD TRADE
The wood distributed in 1948 in one form or another through international channels of trade represented about 7 percent of the estimated total roundwood output for that year, and 10-11 percent of the reported output.
Index numbers for 1948 of the volume of exports of lumber and wood pulp, the two most important primary forest products entering into foreign trade, are as follows:
|
Region |
Lumber |
Wood pulp |
|
|
(1937 = 100) |
|||
|
Europe |
49 |
56 |
|
|
U.S.S.R |
6 |
13 |
|
|
North America |
91 |
162 |
|
|
Latin America |
279 |
- |
|
|
Africa |
131 |
- |
|
|
South and East Asia |
20 |
- |
|
|
Oceania |
441 |
- |
|
|
|
WORLD AVERAGE |
54 |
74 |
In 1948 forest products constituted about 5 percent of the total value of world exports of all commodities. The value of the trade of countries reporting to FAO is shown in the table below. The figures are not truly comparable owing to differences in coverage.
|
Commodity |
Exports |
Imports |
|||
|
1948 |
1947 |
1948 |
1947 |
||
|
|
(Million US, at current prices) |
||||
|
Lumber |
628 |
687 |
704 |
687 |
|
|
Wood pulp and pulpwood |
740 |
617 |
696 |
590 |
|
|
Pulp products |
1,024 |
958 |
832 |
766 |
|
|
Other industrial wood* |
232 |
309 |
345 |
374 |
|
|
Fuelwood |
3 |
3 |
8 |
3 |
|
|
Other wood products |
136 |
135 |
73 |
83 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
2,763 |
2,709 |
2,658 |
2,503 |
* Includes pitprops; poles, piling, and posts: sawlogs and veneer logs; sleepers; staves and barrels; veneer and plywood.
In 1948 lumber accounted for about 23 percent of the value of all forest products exports, pulpwood and wood pulp for 27 percent, and pulp products for 37 percent.
Trade balances of selected countries for 1948, as calculated from reported data, are as follows:
|
Country |
Exports |
Imports |
Balance | |
|
|
(Million US$) | |||
|
Europe | ||||
|
|
Sweden |
563 |
27 |
+536 |
|
|
Finland |
403 |
1 |
+402 |
|
|
Norway |
126 |
19 |
+107 |
|
|
Austria |
49 |
5 |
+44 |
|
|
Italy |
16 |
40 |
-24 |
|
|
Switzerland |
4 |
45 |
-41 |
|
|
Denmark |
4 |
67 |
-63 |
|
|
Belgium |
15 |
88 |
-73 |
|
|
United Kingdom |
97 |
709 |
-612 |
|
Near East | ||||
|
|
Turkey |
2 |
15 |
-13 |
|
North America | ||||
|
|
Canada |
949 |
41 |
+908 |
|
|
United States |
252 |
957 |
-704 |
|
Latin America | ||||
|
|
Brazil |
54 |
33 |
+21 |
|
|
Venezuela |
* |
14 |
-14 |
|
Africa | ||||
|
|
Southern Rhodesia |
2 |
10 |
-8 |
|
South and East Asia | ||||
|
|
India |
2 |
59 |
-57 |
|
|
Japan |
4 |
5 |
-1 |
|
|
Thailand |
7 |
3 |
+4 |
|
Oceania | ||||
|
|
New Zealand |
2 |
20 |
-18 |
The relationship of the 1948 trade in wood and wood products to the value of the total foreign trade of certain countries is shown below:
TRADE IN WOOD AND WOOD PRODUCTS
|
As percentage of total exports | |
|
Sweden |
51 |
|
Finland |
96 |
|
Norway |
30 |
|
Canada |
31 |
|
Austria |
25 |
|
United States |
13 |
|
Denmark |
9 |
|
United Kingdom |
8 |
|
Belgium |
4 |
|
Switzerland |
4 |
The principal exporting areas of forest products are North America and northern Europe. ³ The percentage distribution of exports of lumber and wood pulp from these areas for 1948 is shown below:
3 Sweden. Finland and Norway.
|
|
Lumber |
Wood pulp |
|||
|
North America |
Northern Europe |
North America |
Northern Europe |
||
|
(Percent) |
|||||
|
Europe |
25 |
79 |
11 |
74 |
|
|
U.S.S.R |
- |
9 |
- |
3 |
|
|
Near East and North Africa |
1 |
6 |
- |
* |
|
|
North America |
54 |
- |
86 |
15 |
|
|
Latin America |
7 |
* |
2 |
5 |
|
|
Africa |
7 |
3 |
- |
* |
|
|
South and East Asia |
2 |
* |
* |
1 |
|
|
Oceania |
4 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
- None.
* Small.
The principal importing area of the world is Western Europe, with the United Kingdom having the largest volume of foreign trade. The origin of imports of lumber and wood pulp into Western Europe for 1948 is shown below:
|
Origin |
Lumber |
Wood pulp | |
|
|
(Percent) | ||
|
Europe |
71 |
88 | |
|
U.S.S.R. |
4 |
1 | |
|
North America |
22 |
11 | |
|
Latin America |
1 |
- | |
|
Africa |
1 |
- | |
|
South and East Asia |
1 |
- | |
|
Oceania |
* |
- | |
|
|
TOTAL |
100 |
100 |
- None.
* Small.
The above tables clearly show that foreign trade in forest products is mainly intra-regional in character. About 60 percept of the 1948 exports recorded from countries of Latin America and South and East Asia were also directed to other countries within the same region. On the other hand, about 85 percent of reported African exports, mainly sawlogs and veneer logs, went to Europe and North America.
LUMBER
Production
World production of lumber in 1948 is estimated at around 193 million m³(s) or 41.3 million standards an increase of about 4 percent over the 1947 estimate of 184 million m³(s) (39.4 million standards). This is mainly accounted for by expanded production in the U.S.S.R. A slight decline in production in North America was offset by an increase in Europe.
The percentage breakdown of world lumber production by regions for 1947 and 1948 is as follows:
|
|
1948 |
1947 |
|
(Percent) |
||
|
North America |
52 |
54 |
|
Europe |
21 |
21 |
|
U.S.S.R. |
12 |
9 |
|
South and East Asia |
8 |
9 |
|
Latin America |
4 |
4 |
|
Oceania |
2 |
2 |
|
Other Regions |
1 |
1 |
|
|
100 |
100 |
Reported lumber production for 1948 amounted to 156.7 million m³(s) (33.5 million standards), about 1 percent greater than in 1947. Coniferous (softwood) lumber accounted for 77 percent of this total.
Consumption
Apparent lumber consumption of reporting countries for 1948 was 156.7 million m³(s) (33.5 million standards) about 9 percent above the 1947 figure. With the exception of Latin America and the Near East, all regions show increased consumption, but the upward trend is slow. Extensive housing and construction needs remain to be satisfied.
There are wide variations in rates of lumber consumption, not only between the different regions but also between countries within the same region. This is illustrated by the following figures for 1948, showing consumption on the basis of cubic meters of sawn wood per person:
|
North America (average 0.60) | ||
|
|
Canada |
0.64 |
|
|
U.S.A |
0.60 |
|
Oceania (average 0.42) | ||
|
|
New Zealand |
0.61 |
|
|
Australia |
0.38 |
|
Europe (average 0.17) | ||
|
|
Finland |
0.37 |
|
|
Sweden |
0.36 |
|
|
Switzerland |
0.28 |
|
|
United Kingdom |
0.15 |
|
|
France |
0.13 |
|
|
Poland |
0.11 |
|
|
Portugal |
0.08 |
|
|
Hungary |
0.04 |
|
Latin America | ||
|
|
Chile |
0.11 |
|
|
Venezuela |
0.09 |
|
|
Brazil |
0.04 |
|
|
Dominican Republic |
0.02 |
|
South and East Asia | ||
|
|
Japan |
0.11 |
|
|
Philippines |
0.06 |
|
|
Malaya |
0.03 |
|
Africa | ||
|
|
Southern Rhodesia |
0.04 |
Stocks
Lumber stocks of reporting countries as of 31 December 1948 had decreased by 0.3 million m³(s) (64,000 standards) below the level of the previous year. Softwood lumber stocks decreased in almost all countries, with the exception of Canada and some countries of Europe and Latin America. Stocks of hardwood lumber generally appeared to increase.
World trade in lumber
There was a decline of 6 percent in the total of reported lumber exports for 1948, compared with 1947, due mainly to decreased exports from North America. Exports represent about 10 percent of the volume of lumber production reported for 1948 and 23 percent of the value of reported trade in forest products.
Nearly 54 percent of international trade in lumber takes place within the two principal lumber-consuming regions, Europe and North America. Another 11 percent is represented by movement of lumber from North America to Europe. Imports reported as originating from the U.S.S.R. in 1948 totaled 464,000 m³(s) (97,000 standards), compared with 138,000 m³(s) (30,000 standards) in 1947. Some of these imports may have come from the Soviet Zone of Germany.
Exports of wood pulp and pulp products, 1948
Exports
The volume of exports reported for 1948 is 17.6 million m³(s) (3.8 million standards), of which 15.8 million m³(s) or 3.4 million standards were coniferous (softwood) lumber. The volume reported for 1947 was 18.7 million m³(s) (4.0 million standards).
About four-fifths of all coniferous (softwood) lumber exports for 1948 originated from Canada, the United States Sweden, Finland, and Brazil. Reported lumber exports were distributed as follows:
|
Destination |
1948 |
1947 |
|
|
(Percent) | |
|
European countries |
48 |
57 |
|
United States |
24 |
16 |
|
Latin America |
9 |
8 |
|
Other destinations |
19 |
19 |
|
|
100 |
100 |
Imports
Lumber imports into the United Kingdom, traditionally the principal lumber importing country, declined in 1948 to 4.70 million m³(s) (1,006,000 standards)
This total was surpassed in the United States, where imports were exceptionally high and reached 4.78 million m³(s) (1,023,000 standards).
Sawlogs
The major lumber-consuming countries also import quantities of sawlogs for further conversion. Imports (including veneer logs) for 1948 totaled 6.60 million m³® of which 25 percent was reported by the United States and Canada and 60 percent by European countries. European imports included 0.92 million m³® of coniferous (softwood) sawlogs from Germany.
The major importers were:
|
|
Total |
Coniferous |
Broadleaved |
|
(Million m³ ®) |
|||
|
France |
1.22 |
1.06 |
0.16 |
|
United States |
1.16 |
0.70 |
0.46 |
|
United Kingdom |
1.10 |
0.66 |
0.44 |
|
Netherlands |
0.46 |
0.30 |
0.16 |
WOOD PULP AND PULP PRODUCTS
Wood pulp production
World production of wood pulp in 1948 is estimated at nearly 28.6 million metric tons, over 9 percent higher than the total of 26.1 million tons calculated for 1947 and almost 2 million tons above the prewar (1937) record.
Figures reported to FAO totaled 26.4 million tons, the estimated proportion by grades being 33 percent mechanical pulp 29 percent sulphite pulp, 30 percent sulphate pulp, and 8 percent all other grades.
The principal wood pulp producing regions are North America and Europe where five countries produce 86 percent of total world output. The United States and Canada (including Newfoundland) which in 1937 produced 46 percent of world output, in 1948 produced 67 percent. Production in Europe dropped from 47 percent of world output in 1937 to 26 percent in 1948.
Consumption of wood pulp
Wood pulp consumption by regions (excl. U.S.S.R.) for 1948 (including pulp equivalents of pulp products) show the following changes compared with 1937:
|
|
1948 |
1937 |
|
|
(Percent) |
|||
|
North America |
70 |
48 |
|
|
Europe |
20 |
39 |
|
|
Latin America |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Asia |
3 |
6 |
|
|
Oceania |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Africa |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Near East and North Africa |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
100 |
100 |
Although Europe and most other parts of the world were short of paper and other pulp products, a market surplus of pulp was experienced in 1948, owing to lack of purchasing power and currency restrictions. Statistics on, consumption and trade of wood pulp reflect the commercial situation only, and are not a true measure of consumer needs for pulp products, such as newsprint, packaging materials, building boards, and rayon fabrics.
Relative consumption levels of pulp products for 1948, in terms of kilograms of wood pulp per person, are illustrated by the following figures:
|
|
Kilograms per caput | |
|
High | ||
|
|
United States |
120 |
|
|
Finland |
87 |
|
|
Canada |
84 |
|
|
Sweden |
82 |
|
|
Norway |
75 |
|
Medium | ||
|
|
New Zealand |
46 |
|
|
Australia |
43 |
|
|
Belgium |
30 |
|
|
United Kingdom |
27 |
|
Low | ||
|
Uruguay |
13 | |
|
Egypt |
3 | |
World trade in wood pulp
There was a slight increase in wood pulp exports reported for 1948 the total quantity amounting to 4.7 million metric tons as compared with 4.6 million tons in 1947. Exports from European countries increased from 2.8 million tons in 1947 to almost 3 million tons in 1948, the main exporters being Sweden (1.7 million tons), Finland (868,000 tons), and Norway (346,000 tons). Canada's exports of wood pulp, including those from Newfoundland, increased from 1.68 million in 1947 to 1.67 million tons in 1948, 88 percent going to the United States.
The value of wood pulp exports reported for 1948 amounted to US$ 687 million and accounted for one quarter of the total value of all reported forest products exports. In 1948 the United States was by far the greatest importer of wood pulp (2.0 million tons), followed by the United Kingdom (1.2 million tons).
