Principles of Land Management Planning for California National Forests

Publisher： Society of American Foresters

ISSN： 0022-1201

Source： Journal of Forestry, Vol.48, Iss.9, 1950-09, pp. : 435-438

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Abstract

The increase in population on the West Coast, and particularly in California, is a subject that has received wide publicity. Articles in magazines with national circulation have featured this growth in one way or another. California's population has now passed the 10 million figure and predictions of still greater increases are being freely offered and discussed in the state with mingled feelings of alarm and pride. Along with other parts of the economy and social structure, the eighteen national forests in California are feeling the tremendous pressure generated by this expanding population. Forest officers are made aware of these pressures in countless ways. Timber species formerly labelled "inferior" are now being logged. Argument over water is no longer confined to the principal rivers but has spread to upstream sources within the forests. Highway construction and betterment yearly bring increasing numbers of recreationists to the mountains. Citizen groups present their own particular views and demands while the population increase overflows into accessible mountain areas with characteristic American disregard for order. Problems arising from intermingled private lands have multiplied, since individual and public interests are frequently at variance. Sound decisions on forest land use are becoming increasingly difficult for the administrator. Mountain lands are not homogeneous in nature; there exists wide variation in soils, climate, topography, and cover. Policies relating to individual resources have been formulated and tested through the years; there now exists need for a unifying system which will correlate conflicting demands on the land and resources. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss briefly certain principles from which a planning system may be derived. If proved sound, the value of such principles to the land manager is obvious.