"The name of FAO's new magazine, Unasylva, is well chosen-one world, one forest. This new review will attempt to shed light on all manner of problems in the field of forestry and forest products, to compare methods that are being used in different countries, and to present the opinions and suggestions of experts in the various fields. I hope and believe it will be a keen new blade in the world-wide battle for freedom from want."
These words are taken from an editorial by Sir John Boyd Orr, the first Director-General of FAO, which appeared in the first issue of Unasylva in 1947.
From the time of entering upon my duties as Director of the Forestry Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, I had the intention of publishing a forestry periodical with a threefold purpose: to disseminate technical knowledge of worldwide or regional interest; to keep readers informed of the forestry activities of the Organization, and to be a connecting link between forest services to keep them informed of changes in the forest policies and the organization of the services of member countries.
It took a year to overcome the technical and administrative difficulties inherent in such an undertaking and it was in July 1947, when the provisional Headquarters of the Organization was at Washington, that the first number of Unasylva appeared.
When it was started there were many who-doubted the wisdom of embarking on this project. But I always felt that a periodical like Unasylva had a real contribution to make and I think that my point of view has been amply proved during the ten years Unasylva has served the cause of forestry all over the world.
It seems now appropriate to celebrate the passage of these ten years by a special number devoted to taking stock of our activities.
To present a balance sheet of the activities of FAO in regard to forestry during this period is therefore our object here. The accomplishments are the work neither of one man nor of the few individuals who have become international civil servants. I have made the point from the beginning that the work of the Forestry Division is a collective work in which all the forest services and technicians of the world participate. It is in this spirit that I have organized the work of the Division, and that, in particular fields, a large number of experts have been associated with the activities of our technical groups.
For those who are not familiar with our work, this issue of Unasylva will give them an opportunity of learning about it and perhaps of realizing that it is not always accurate to say that international organizations have no value.
For the others, for all those who have been associated with the work of our regional commissions, technical groups, and meetings, it may bring pleasantly to mind some particular incident at a conference, some episode of a commission or congress, perhaps some forgotten friend.
I hope in this, spirit that this number will interest you and that it will be appreciated. May it strengthen our friends in the view that there is still much to be done in the field of forestry, that the path is barely marked out, but that the future is full of promise and that we hope to see the young generation overcome the obstacles which we have only reconnoitred.
Photograph: Direction générale des eaux et forêts
FIGURE 2. Cattle grazing in an old stand of larch. Forêt de Montgenèvre (Hautes Alpes) France
Photograph: Direction générale des eaux et forêts
