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176
iv. forestry.
laws issued in 1903, the forests in question are partly in a neglected state,
and, as a rule, they suffer from excessive lumbering. It is true that
exact figures do not exist to show the extent to which this excessive
felling of timber is carried on, as, in order to obtain such figures, an
exact knowledge is required, not only of the annual growth of the forests,
but also of the amount of the timber cut every j’ear.
Various associations, however, have long been labouring for the promotion of
forest-economy in Sweden. The most important of these associations is that
called the "Svenska Skogsvårdsföreningen" (Swedish Forest Conservation
Association), which was formed in 1902 (under the name "Föreningen för skogsvård").
Since 1903, the association has issued a journal and also, for many years,
popular papers, which, from the year 1914 inclusive have been replaced
by a small journal. The association which, one year after its
establishment, numbered almost 1 400 members, now has about twice that number.
It arranges annual meetings and excursions, and, among other things, devotes
special interest to the question of a general survey for the purpose of estimating
the entire timber-supplies of the kingdom. In order to obtain a thorough
investigation of this question, the Riksdag granted the means necessary to carry
out an experimental valuation of the timber-supply and the probable increase in
Värmland Län. This valuation has now been carried out.
The first, in point of time, of the associations in question is the "Föreningen
för skogsvård i Norrland", which, since 1914 inclusive, has been re-organized
as "Norrlands Skogsvårdsförbund" (The Norrland Forest Conservation Union),
two other associations working for the same ends having been incorporated with
the body first mentioned. The Union dates back to 1883, since which year it
has been actively engaged in the promotion of forest economy in Norrland, by
such methods as holding meetings and arranging excursions, and by issuing
small publications, year-books handbooks, etc. In other parts of the country, too,
there exist active associations for the promotion of forest economy, such as
"Skogssällskapet" and others.
In the absence of reliable statistical information with regard to the
produce of the forests and the consumption of timber, the reader must be
satisfied with the following approximate calculation.
The Produce
of the forests of Sweden, or the annual growth that can be used, has been
very variously estimated. In general, all older calculations suffer from
a common fault, viz., all of them are too low, and the result of this has
been that altogether too gloomy a view has been taken of the future of
the forests. The usable, annual produce, too, has long been on the
increase, partly in consequence of the more extensive employment of a
rational system of forestry in the care both of the public and a
considerable number of private woods, and partly because the forest-products are
turned to better account than formerly, and also because fairly extensive
areas of naked soil have been afforested and thus rendered productive.
At present, the annual growth in question need not be set lower than 35
million cubic meters.
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