naterial policy

No ONE in our indusny today can doubt the importance of public timber as resource for the manufacture of forest derived products. Twenty percent of the nation's commercial timberland is currently owned by the federal government, as well as forty percent of the commercial timber volume and over sixty percent of the softwood saw timber . the latter being the principal material for residential construction.

American Forest Products, a subsidiary of The Bendix Corporation since late 1970, operates numerous log processing centers in California on a sustained yield basis with a vital dependency on public timber.

For the state as a whole, the volume of public timber operated has increased in the last two decades from something less than one-half billion feet in 1952 to the present annual allowable cut limit of about two billion feet. This increase represents a substantial transition from private to public timber supply, a trend that is typical of the entire Western region. This transition is also indicative of a very significant change in the role of the Forest Service, from a custodial posture to an active and dominant sales agency for the public timber resource.

of the menbers of the Forest Serv. ice, rightly places them as t\e number one and most respected soutcie of national leadership on forest related matters. It is my feeling, howevero that there should be a much more aggressive and positive posture in the exercise of professional judgments and actions by

Story sIs Glonce

In a logical, straight-folward speech before the 25th anni' vbrsary meeting of the Forest Products Research Society, Blagen urged a much more aggiessive -and positive Position in professional judgments and actions by the U.S. Forest Service.

the Forest Service. In these times when so many self-appointed "experts" are attempting to influence vital decisions through emotionalism and irresponsible scare tacticso a firm position founded on facts, balance, and sound professional judgment is urgently needed.

by HOWARD w. BTAGEN

Certain segments of the public have had difficulty in assimilating the changed role of the national forest resources. Many have failed to understand the overall objective, although it has remained constant since 1905 when the national forests were created from the forest reserves for the purpose of permanently supplying public needs. Some extremists have leveled charges that the timber industry and the Forest Service are engaged in some kind of conspiracy to ravish the national forests. Such an allegation is ridicuIous.

If acceptance of this view is coupled with a vote-getting campaign by a similarly misled politician, the situation could prove disastrous...

The degree of experience, disci' pline, and demonstrated dedication

Such a positive stance would do much to enhance the Forest ,Service image in the eyes of everyoneo in' cluding our industry. It is a national disgrace that for many years substantial national forest land has been idle lor lack of reforestation. More timber would be available today if vigorous Forest Service leadership and aroused citizenry had stimulated past Congresses to fund such work.

The logical action for the f,uture is to develop and maintain a public timber sale policy constantly aimed at utilization of the full allowable cut: and the allowable cut limit should be based upon the most re. liable current information. This stabilized timber sale policy would provide needed incentive for the industry to adopt the continual capital improvements essential to efrcient manufacturing facilities. Finally, this stability would result in a more consistently competitive market for the important end products needed by the people of this nation.