Appendix.-Imports of Timber, Wood Manufactures and Pulp of Wood ... Map, showing Acquisition of Land 34 24 ... ... ... ... :: ... 25 26 ... ... ... 26 66623 A 2 EIGHTH ANNUAL of the FORESTRY COMMISSIONERS. Year ending September 30th, 1927. FOREST POLICY. There has been no interruption in policy during the year and the Commissioners' planting programme has been carried out in its essentials. Resignation of Lord Lovat. On the 3rd March, 1927, the Rt. Hon. Lord Lovat, to the regret of his colleagues of all ranks, resigned from the Forestry Commission on taking up another appointment. As first Chairman of the Commission he will always be remembered for the manner in which he laid the foundation of a new organisation and for the skill with which he overcame the difficulties which inevitably arise in bringing a new Act into operation. His gift for administration and his practical knowledge of forestry were of the utmost value in shaping the Commission's policy, while his keen and untiring work, in office and forest, set a high standard of duty, which the Service built up under his guidance was quick to appreciate. Finance. The balance remaining in the Forestry Fund at 30th September, 1926, was £251,936. Payments into the Fund amounted to £773,164, and out of the Fund to £618,997. The balance at the end of the year was consequently £406,103, an increase of £154,167 over the corresponding figure for the previous year. Out of the total amount of £3 millions due to be paid into the Forestry Fund, under the Forestry Act, 1919, before the 31st March, 1929, £3,014,400 had been paid to the 30th September. 1927, leaving £485,600 still to be provided. The Treasury has now intimated that this balance will be made available for the financial year 1928-29 and adding to this the sum of £136,000 estimated to be in the Fund at 1st April, 1928, a net expenditure of £621,600 will be possible during that year. Land Acquisition. Acquisitions during the year amounted to 36,039 acres, of which 30,755 acres were classified as plantable. Acquisitions to the end of the forest year 1927 are compared in the table below with the proposals of the Acland Report. The total area. of plantable land acquired to the 30th September, 1927, amounted to 244,838 acres, or 39,962 acres less than the proposed area. Note. In addition, 4,866 acres were acquired in Ireland to 31st March, 1922. (A) STATE FORESTS. Planting Programme. Conifers. The progress made in the realisation of the 150,000acre programme is shown in the table below. The area planted during the year was 21,963 acres, compared with 23,300 acres. under the Acland Programme and 22,600 acres under the Commissoners' revised programme. The total to the end of the year was 90,156 acres, compared with 93,300 acres for the Acland Programme and 92,900 for the revised programme. Taking into account the area of land now available for planting and the probable course of acquisition for the next year, it is estimated that the Commissioners will plant over the whole 10-year period approximately 135,000 acres of conifers which, for reasons fully explained in previous reports, will leave them 15,000 acres short of the 150,000-acre programme. 66623 A 3 Note.-Owing to a re-survey the figures in respect of the area planted in the seasons 1919-25 have been reduced by 250 acres. In addition to the areas indicated above, 1,697 acres were planted in Ireland to 31st March, 1922. Broadleaved Species.-No definite programme has been laid down for the 10-year period. The areas actually planted in Great Britain are: It is estimated that the total area which will be planted with hardwoods in the 10-year period will be approximately 5,000 acres. This is additional to the few hundred acres which are in process of regeneration by natural means in the former Crown Woods. Total. The total area planted to 30th September, 1927, was 94,289 acres and this added to the estimate for the remaining two years gives a figure of 140,000 acres for the 10-year period. As another planting season has passed since the period to which this report relates, it may be of interest to note that the total area planted by the Commissioners to the end of May, 1928, amounted to approximately 117,300 acres. (B) ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND PRIVATE OWNERS. The area proposed, under the Acland Report, to be afforested or replanted by local authorities and private owners with State assistance during the 10 years was 110,000 acres, or an average of 11,000 acres per annum. The following work has been carried out by means of grants. under Recipients of grants for "preparation for planting took to plant up without payment of a further grant. The area planted will consequently exceed 62,000 acres. The following planting work has also been done in connection with two proceeds-sharing schemes initiated by ment Commissioners: the Develop It is estimated that the total area which will be planted by local authorities and private owners in the 10-year period with the assistance, in one form or another, of the Commissioners will be approximately 75,000 acres. Education and Research. There have been no changes in the organisation and course of this work which has made steady progress. 66623 A 4 |