The sixth international grassland congress
European commission on forestry
Pulp and paper consultation
Asia-Pacific forestry commission
Grasslands account for more than half of the earth's land surface and are one of its greatest assets. In every part of the world scientists administrators and producers are working to improve them and have had experiences which may benefit others.
The bringing together of more than 1,500 participants from 50 countries at the Sixth International Grassland Congress made possible the free interchange of ideas and offered an unusual opportunity for mutual understanding. Emphasis was placed on greater and more economical production of forage, meat, wool, hides and other animal products together with other aspects of grassland agriculture. The application of such information to particular growth conditions in different parts of the world can have far-reaching results in raising and maintaining the living standards of people of all nations.
Under the sponsorship of the United States Government and FAO, the Sixth Congress was held at the Pennsylvania State College 17-23 August 1952. It was the first to be held in the United States, and brought together the largest representative worldwide group of grassland scientists ever assembled. Over 1200 attended from the United States and more than 300 from other countries.
Philip V. Cardon, U. S. Department of Agriculture, was elected President. Vice Presidents were Claudio A. Volio, Minister of Agriculture and Industries Costa Rica, and J. Griffiths Davies, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. Australia. Will M. Myers, University of Minnesota, was named Secretary General. Deputy Secretaries General were Clark L. Willard, Department of State, Herbert R. Albrecht, the Pennsylvania State College, and W. R. Chapline, Chief, Division of Range Research, Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Welcoming addresses were given by Secretary of Agriculture Charles F. Brannan, Governor John F. Fine of Pennsylvania, and President Milton S. Eisenhower of the Pennsylvania State College. Greetings from the Director-General of FAO were brought by Gove Hambidge, North American Regional Representative. Dr. Cardon, in his presidential address, spoke on "Our Concept of Grassland Agriculture".
Congress Resolutions - A resolution presented by J. Banerji, Deputy Inspector General of Forests, India, was unanimously approved by the Congress. It recognized the importance of grassland agriculture, the advisability of scientific management, and that improvident management has resulted in loss. It urged that each country should formulate a national grassland policy consistent with its climatic, biotic, social and economic situation. As a part of that policy it suggested research, surveys and action programs for applying improved practices. It also suggested that FAO consider the collection and dissemination of appropriate available data about grasslands in different countries and the possibility of developing a system of statistical enumeration for classification and output of grazing lands for use on an international basis.
Sectional Meetings - Sectional meetings were devoted to presentation of papers and informal discussions of the subjects presented. These discussions often proved of great value in developing highlights of problems, results and procedures. Numerous papers discussed measures for achieving larger yields from the soil through such methods as plant breeding and production of improved seed, appropriate pasture management, application of fertilizers, soil and water conservation, mechanization and other practices. Other sessions covered problems of harvesting and preservation of forage and its use in the feeding of livestock. Still others considered grassland ecology and physiology and techniques in grassland research.
Major grassland developments have occurred mainly in the temperate zones of the world, although in recent years important advancements have been made in tropical areas. One particular section, convened by S. H. Work, North American Regional Office, FAO, was devoted to improvement and management of tropical grasslands.
In addition to the section on improvement and management of range lands, range problems, relations, results, research techniques and appropriate machinery were also considered in several other sections in which active interest was shown. Range land management was covered from the view-point of developments in South Africa, Canada, Pakistan the high Andes and the tropics.
Forest grazing in the southeastern United States and in the Philippines was also discussed in the Tropical Grasslands Section. The research underlying the management of arid and semi-arid range lands throughout the world was outlined. The need for co-ordination between the hill country range lands of New Zealand and the more productive cultivated pastures brought out the importance of integration between range and other agricultural production.
The second session on range land was devoted to reseeding problems and consisted chiefly of two panels concerned with essentials underlying selection of species for range reseeding and methods and procedures most likely to ensure success. The concluding range session included a symposium on shrub encroachment and noxious plants and their control.
Demonstrations and Field Trips - The exhibits and demonstrations at the Congress emphasized and magnified the changing conditions in a modern world. They brought together the greatest array of grassland equipment, machinery and other related developments ever assembled. The 15,000 farmers and Congress participants who viewed the field day demonstrations were enthusiastic about the possibility of utilizing modern machinery for the efficient clearing of land, control of brush, establishment and renovation of pastures, and the harvesting and preservation of forage. The opportunity for sprinkler irrigation even in semi-humid and humid areas to keep production at a high level during dry periods, and of the use of fertilizers and other chemicals for high forage production, controlling insects, weeds and other pests and other industrial developments, were all effectively demonstrated. Much interest was also shown in the use of airplanes for spraying and dusting.
Four 2-week post-Congress tours were conducted simultaneously in major grassland areas of the country: the Northeast, the Midwest, the South and the West. On these tours participants were shown field experiments, practical application of grassland agriculture on farms, and resultant meat, wool. milk, and other livestock production and many industrial enterprises related to grassland agriculture.
The proceedings of the Congress, which will include all papers presented and other Congress developments, will be published in a 2-volume edition of approximately 800 pages each.
The request of New Zealand to be host to the Seventh Congress was unanimously approved.
The Sixth Congress was conducted for the exchange of ideas and experiences among scientists, technicians, and practical operators rather than for the development of agreements relating to governmental policies. This forum provided A fruitful approach and the Congress undoubtedly proved more productive by virtue of this limitation. Continuing collaboration of participants and others directly interested in grassland agriculture has an added timeliness in view of technical assistance programs for economic development now under way in many Countries, with the active support of FAO.
The European Commission on Forestry held its fifth session at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, from 14 to 25 October 1952.
During the session, several joint meetings were held with the Timber Committee of the Economic Commission for Europe.
The following member countries of the Commission were represented at the session: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Western Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and Yugoslavia. Observers attended from the United States and Canada as well as from the following international organizations: the International Labour Office, the Organization for European Economic Co-operation, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) and the International Poplar Commission.
The session was opened by O. J. Sangar of the United Kingdom, Chairman of the Commission, in the presence of Marcel Leloup, Director, Forestry Division, who represented the Director-General of FAO.
In the absence of Professor Saari of Finland, Vice-Chairman of the Commission, who was taking part in an FAO mission to Paraguay, N. Osara, head of the Finnish delegation, was elected Vice-Chairman and appointed Rapporteur for the Session.
Timber Trends Study - The Commission met in joint session with the Timber Committee of the Economic Commission for Europe to consider the first draft of a Study of Trends in European Timber Consumption. Production and Trade.
After hearing the opening statements by Gunnar Myrdal, Executive Secretary of ECE, Mr. Leloup and E. Glesinger, Deputy-Director of the Forestry Division, in charge of the Study, the Joint Meeting elected O. J. Sangar, as its Chairman, and F. du Vignaux, Chairman of the ECE Timber Committee, as its Vice-Chairman and Rapporteur.
Delegations were unanimous in congratulating the Secretariats on the work accomplished. Commended for its structure and scope, and for the quality of its documentation, the Study was regarded as a document of the highest value, which could undoubtedly be of great assistance in the formulation of medium-term policies for timber production, consumption and trade and related investment programs (the year 1960 being taken as typifying a medium-term).
Nevertheless, in view of the complexity of the problems raised in the Study and the inadequate time available for detailed consideration in its entirety, certain delegates questioned the advisability of publishing the document at the present time.
Since the Secretariat did not wish to delay publication, however, the Joint Meeting agreed that the document could be published on the sole responsibility of the Secretariats, providing this was stressed in the published study and given prominence in any statements to the Press: delegates to the European Forestry Commission and the Timber Committee had not had sufficient time to consider the study in detail and to draw their own conclusions.
After hearing the constructive criticisms and penetrating comments put forward by delegates, the Joint Meeting warmly congratulated the Executive Secretary of ECE, and Norris E. Dodd, Director-General of FAO, on the high scientific quality and the great value of the Study submitted to it and thanked the staff of the two Organizations who took part in its preparation.
It recommended that before publication the Study should be revised in the light of the comments and criticisms made at the Joint Meeting and of any observations subsequently submitted by Governments and experts. A Working Party composed of experts in forest policy, timber production, woodworking industry and timber trade should be established, the members to be selected by the Director-General of FAO and the Executive Secretary of ECE after consultation with member Governments. It was agreed that this Working Party should be convened early in 1953 and should consider. on the basis of the discussions at the previous session, proposals for future action, so as to enable the Secretariat to draft recommendations for submission to member Governments well in advance of the next joint session, when the report would be considered and implemented as necessary
It was understood that, prior to consideration by the joint session the proposals of the Working Party would not commit the FAO European Forestry Commission, the ECE Timber Committee or Governments.
It was decided to hold the next joint meeting in Rome in the autumn of 1953.
Forest Policy - Delegations commented on reports presented to the Commission, drawing particular attention to those points having a direct bearing on the Timber Trends study.
As regards afforestation, reforestation, and forest improvement, the Commission approved the proposals of the Secretariat for a questionnaire to show the progress achieved in the period 1947 to 1952, and also agreed to the convening of a Working Croup before the sixth session of the Commission to examine the replies to this questionnaire.
The Commission then directed its attention to points bearing specifically upon the Timber Trends Study and made certain recommendations to the Secretariat for the revision of Part II of the Study before publication, and for informing Governments of the opinions of the Commission on those problems which ought to be discussed by the Joint Working Party to be convened in accordance with the recommendations of the Joint Session.
Torrent Control and Protection from Avalanches - The report of the Working Group on Torrent Control and Protection from Avalanches, which met in France from 28 June to 8 July 1952 was submitted by P. Reneuve. representing J. Messines, Chairman of the Working Group. Mr. Reneuve stressed the desirability of close cooperation between all services concerned, especially in connection with the preparation of plans for large dams. Any meeting held in 1954 should be devoted more especially to the study. of protection from avalanches, in a country where work in that field was particularly far advanced, such as Switzerland or Austria. The report was approver! unanimously.
The Commission thanked the members of the Working Group for their excellent work and requested the French representative to convey its thanks to the French Government and the Direction Générale des Eaux et Forêts, Paris, for the excellent way in which the meeting and the accompanying study tour had been organized.
Sub-Commission on Mediterranean Problems - The report of the Sub-Commission on Mediterranean Problems which had met at Istanbul in May 1952 was submitted by Professor A. Pavari, Chairman of the Sub-Commission, who advocated holding a joint meeting with countries of a Mediterranean character in the Near East region. He also drew the Commission's attention to the recommendation for the setting up of national working teams for studying eucalypts.
The Commission unanimously approved the report and requested the Turkish representative to convey its thanks to the Turkish Government and the Forest Department at Ankara for the excellent way in which the Sub-Commission's session and the preceding study tour had been organized.
As regards the next session, the Commission requested the Director-General of FAO to fix the date and place in consultation with the countries which had already extended invitations or expressed the desire to offer hospitality to the Sub-Commission. It was desirable to hold a joint meeting with countries in the Near East, and perhaps with the International Chestnut Commission or the Working Party on Cork Oak.
Logging Techniques awl Training of Forest Workers - The report of the Pilot Committee on Logging Techniques and Training of Forest Workers which met in Geneva from 23 to 29 March, 1952 was presented to the Commission by H. G. Winkelmann, Chairman of the Committee.
The Commission approved this report unanimously and expressed its thanks to the members of the Pilot Committee for the work achieved. It emphasized the importance of collecting documentation on this subject, particularly as regards the work which has been carried out or been planned in the different member countries.
The Commission showed great interest in the work undertaken in connection with the development of tractors for use in forestry operations. It was felt that tractors should be classified in categories according to the use to be made of them, with testing and reporting on the same basis. Data relative to practical use in the field were of paramount importance. The proposed inquiries should stimulate the production of tractors specially adapted for forests forestry work.
The Secretariat was congratulated on its collaboration in this field with the International Labour Office, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations and the Industry and Materials Division of the ECE.
The Commission gratefully noted the suggestion by the delegate of Finland that the next session of the Committee should be held in that country, in February 1953.
Statistics - The Commission unanimously approved the Report of the Statistical Working Group, which met during the session. This report related to forest fire statistics, eon. version factors and the next FAO inventory on world forest resources.
Excursion - At the invitation of the Inspecteur général des forêts of Switzerland and of the Canton de Vaud, the Commission visited the forests of Risoud.
The visit provided a good illustration of many points discussed in the Timber Trends Study on the development of virgin or inaccessible forests, particularly the importance of roads, other means of access and exploitation generally.
The Commission expressed its gratitude to the forest services of Switzerland and the Canton, and to all those who organized the visit.
Election of Chairman - The Chairman indicated to the delegates that in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the new Chairman must be elected from among the delegates present.
On the proposal of the delegate of Italy, seconded by the delegate of France, R. Schlatter, the delegate of Switzerland, was unanimously elected Chairman for the sixth session of the Commission.
The delegate of Sweden expressed to the retiring Chairman, on behalf of all delegations, their regret at his retirement and their appreciation of his services during the last four sessions.
Date and Place of the Sixth Session - It was decided that the Chairman, in consultation with the Secretariat, and having regard to the proposal for a further meeting jointly with the ECE, Timber Committee, should determine the date and place for the next session.
More than thirty prominent personalities1 of the pulp and paper world met at FAO headquarters in Rome from 3 to 13 December 1952 to determine the feasibility and relative cost of making pulp and paper from tropical and sub-tropical woods and from agricultural residues. They discussed processes for pulping tropical broadleaved woods, bamboo, bagasse, straw and other agricultural residues, and also reached agreement on the adoption of uniform testing procedures for determining pulpability.
1W. E. Cohen (Australia); E. Castagne (Belgium); L. Rys (Brazil); G. H. Tomlinson (Canada); J. Michon, R. Peteri, J. Savard, A. Villière, J. J. Wilmot-Roussel (France); G. Jayme, R. O. H. Runkel, R. Schepp (Germany); F. Muller (Holland): R. V. Bhat (India); G. Centola, G. Consiglio (Italy); E. Hägglund, H. W. Giertz, B. Steenberg (Sweden); J. R. Furlong (United Kingdom); G. H. Chidester, V. P. Edwardes, J. A. Hall. W. O. Hisey, E. C. Lathrop, D. J. MacLaurin (United States of America); H. Baars, W. Barbour, R. Duckelmann, K. A. Forrest, H. Mueller-Clemm, A. Sundelin (FAO Technical Assistance officers).
This high-level technical meeting was organized as part of the three-phase FAO drive to increase the world's supply of pulp and paper as a long-term policy.
The three phases are:
(a) a survey of potential possibilities for expanding the production of pulp and paper;(b) advice in planning new mills, where these appear to be economic propositions, with due regard to suitability and continuity of raw material supplies;
(c) technical assistance in establishing such mills and in their initial operation.
The participants, who attended in their personal capacities and not as governmental representatives, included heads of pulp and paper research work at various institutes in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, U.K. and U.S.A., six FAO technical assistance officers who had completed survey missions on pulp and paper possibilities in various countries, and six consultants who had helped in the preparation of the working documents for the meeting. Several were independent consultants engaged in the pulp and paper industry.
The basic documents were prepared by G. H. Chidester of the Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A., and W.E. Cohen of the Forest Products Division of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Melbourne, and dealt with "procedures recommended for the investigation of new fibrous raw materials for paper", and "pulping processes for fibrous raw materials from new sources".
Under the able chairmanship of Dr. Chidester, the meeting was divided into four working groups, each with its own chairman and secretary, to deal with the following:
Group I: methods and procedures for testing;Group II: determination of processes suitable and products possible for: softwoods, temperate broad-leaved woods, tropical broad-leaved woods;
Group III: determination of processes suitable and products possible for: bagasse, bamboo, straw, grasses and other non-wood materials;
Group IV: consideration of engineering and economic aspects connected with the work of Groups II and III in the capacity of an advisory panel.
All those pulping processes which are in present commercial use were evaluated and their suitability for converting specific raw materials into paper clearly indicated. Among the processes expounded were groundwood, sulphite, sulphate, cold caustic soda, neutral sulphite, lime, caustic soda-chlorine and mechano-chemical. Particular attention was devoted to chemical, power and water requirements, as well as pulp yields, bleaching methods and pollution. Emphasis was given to the suitability of various fibrous raw materials for different paper products, and the usage possibilities of short fibre pulps for newsprint, kraft wrapping and container hoard. Tables were drawn up to show possible uses of pulps manufactured by different processes from such materials as 'mixtures of tropical broadleaved woods, eucalypts, bamboo, bagasse and straw. Estimates were prepared in an endeavour to illustrate comparative costs - including investment in plant and equipment - for each of the processes mentioned and as applied to the various raw- materials considered.
Dealing with the selection of processes for future projects, the experts emphasized that there was seldom any necessity to consider novel or untried processes for mills that were to use new raw materials. Improvement of processes and development of processes to give higher yields, better pulp, by-products and better efficiency should certainly be encouraged, hut this must be considered as an entirely separate problem. Starting an industry by using a new process for new materials merely involves tackling two problems when only one is necessary.
On the much-discussed question of utilizing bagasse for newsprint, the meeting declared:
"Since it is not possible to make ground wood type pulp from bagasse (or straw and similar plant fibers), conventional news-print cannot be made entirely from this material. Chemical pulps from bagasse (or straw), however, could be utilized - as a substitute for coniferous wood chemical pulps - in combination with groundwood for newsprint".
An important outcome of the consultations was the establishment of an FAO Advisory Board on Pulping Tests. With the help of this Board, FAO will now be in a position to arrange tests of the pulping qualities of raw materials from any given locality, as well as to ensure that these tests are carried out in line with agreed standards, and thus be internationally comparable. Moreover, it will be possible for these tests to be organised at minimum cost and without too much delay at the laboratory best located and equipped for the job. The world's leading pulp and paper laboratories will now co-operate with FAO in systematic efforts to create new pulping capacity in the less developed regions and countries.
As a result of the consultations two reports will shortly be issued embodying the common views of some of the world's leading pulp and paper specialists on a number of widely debated and hitherto very controversial issues.
As Norris E. Dodd, FAO's Director-General, said during the closing stages of the Consultation:
"I believe that within a few months it will be almost inconceivable for anybody seriously to consider the project of a new pulp and paper factory from non-conventional raw materials without consulting and carrying with him the texts which you are about to approve. One of your reports will guide bankers and governments, as wolf as the experts, by advising them what are the decisive criteria which determine whether or not their forests and fields are a possible commercial source of pulp and paper. Your other report2 will help materially in overcoming rather widespread confusion by specifying for each major group of raw materials what pulping processes should be used and what kinds of paper they can yield.2 Procedures for testing and pulping fibrous raw materials will also be included in this report.In addition to the contents of your documents, I believe this meeting has produced another even more significant achievement. The discussions and private talks which you have had since you came to Rome have created a wide area of agreement as to where we stand with regard to the possibility of developing pulp and paper capacity in those parts of the world which so far have produced and consumed only a fraction of what they need. Since they do not have the foreign currencies to step up substantially their pulp and paper imports, their consumption is not likely to rise to more adequate levels until they are able to develop some local sources of pulp and paper".
At the end of the two-week meeting the experts concluded that the development of a pulp and paper industry in the tropics can certainly take place, but its growth must be parallel to a broadly intensified and accelerated programme of research. They declared that such an industry could more than off-set any rising world demand for paper and newsprint, and that new materials in the shape of broadleaved forests, fibre-yielding plants and agricultural residues exist in combined tonnages of stupendous proportion awaiting exploitation. They agreed that:
1. Tropical woods, bamboo, Sugar cane bagasse, straw, and various other agricultural residues, constitute raw materials for the industrial manufacture of paper.2. A variety of well-established pulping processes are available for the conversion of these non-conventional raw materials. Selection of the most appropriate processes could now be macro in the light of various local and technical considerations which were discussed at the meeting and are specifically indicated in the reports.
3. There can be no doubt that the world's potential supply of raw materials for pulping is plentiful and even abundant to meet any conceivable increase in the world's prospective requirements of pulp and paper.
4. Generally speaking, chemicals, power, transportation and - above all - money, are more expensive in underdeveloped countries than in industrialised areas, and it requires far more capital to establish an efficient pulp and paper operation in those countries than in North America or Scandinavia. The effect of these additional cost elements is, however, frequently off-sot by the existence of cheaper wood and labour. Calculations show that the production costs of pulp and paper from tropical wood and agricultural residues can be higher, equal, or in some cases even lower than average production cost in Europe or North America, according to local circumstances. The experts' final statement read:
"There is every reason to expect that given properly executed technical and economic plans, the large unexploited resources available can make a vital contribution to living in now underdeveloped countries. There must be a period of trial, a period of groping, patient capital, but if the means available are wisely used, there can arise a pulp and paper industry in the tropics that will be of world importance".
Some sixty delegates from fourteen member countries participated in the second session, from 1 to 13 December 1952, of FAO's Forestry Commission for Asia and the Pacific at Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Countries represented were Australia, Burma, Ceylon, France (French Union), India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Netherlands (Netherlands New Guinea), Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom (Federation of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, Singapore) United States of America and Viet-Nam. W. H. Cummings, head of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Far East, represented the Director-General of FAO. Observers attended from the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE), the United Nations Technical Assistance Administration (UNTAA), and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The South Pacific Commission and the Pacific Science Congress were also represented.
His Excellency the Governor of Singapore opened the session and in welcoming the delegations, said that the creation of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission was evidence of a general realisation that the problems facing forest services and industries were common to all countries, differing only in degree; their solution was a matter for consultation for the common good and not a matter for unilateral action. He was impressed by the manifest desire of all connected with the Commission to make concrete progress.
Mr. W. H. Cummings conveyed to the meeting a message from the Director-General of FAO, in which Mr. Dodd said that he felt sure that the enlargement of FAO's work through the Technical Assistance Programme had been at least a contributing factor in the forestry progress displayed in this region.
Election of Officers
Mom Chao Suebsukswasti Sukswasti (Thailand) having indicated his desire to retire from office, the Commission elected J. P. Edwards (United Kingdom) as the new Chairman. E. J. Shrubshall (Federation of Malaya) was elected first Vice-Chairman and Thiem Komkris (Thailand) second Vice-Chairman. F. G. Browne (Sarawak) was appointed Rapporteur for the session.
Forest Policy
All member countries of the Commission tabled progress reports on forest policy drawn up in accordance with the outline agreed at the Inaugural Session at Bangkok, which the Chairman said was a most gratifying response. The progress reported! by countries was in feet remarkable but much still remained to be done. In particular, silviculture and management tended to lag behind progress in the field of utilization.
Delegates were given an opportunity to highlight features of their progress reports, and many interesting points were brought out in the subsequent discussions. India had published a new declaration of national forest policy, revised statements of policy were being formulated by Malaya and Burma; the extension of forest law to the outer islands of Indonesia was under consideration by the Government.
Several delegations emphasized the significance of the creation of unified Natural Resources Boards or Land Utilization Councils, a matter which had been given prominence at the Inaugural Session of the Commission at Bangkok in 1950 and subsequently at the regional Land Utilization Conference organized by FAO in Ceylon in 1951. In Timor (Indonesia) a committee was determining the areas that should be permanently allotted to agriculture, livestock production and forestry. Accounts were given of Natural Resources Boards or similar bodies newly created in Ceylon, the Federation of Malaya and Sarawak.
In Japan, as in India, the extension of controlled management to private forests was a marked feature of present policy. In the Federation of Malaya it had been possible to adopt a standard silvicultural system applicable to all the lowland dipterocarp forests.
As regards the utilization side of forestry, several delegates mentioned plans for new forest products research laboratories, training workshops, and modernization of extraction equipment. It was felt that the timber grading course organized by FAO and the Federation of Malaya and Singapore, and the mechanical logging school now being conducted by FAO and the Government of the Philippines, were definitely steps in the right direction. Industrial afforestation projects were mentioned, notably with Pinus insularis in the Philippines for pulp and paper production, and with Pinus merkusii in Indonesia.
The possibility of exports of timber, sleepers and fuelwood from Netherlands and Australian New Guinea was considered noteworthy.
A member of the United States delegation gave details of the military requirements, over the next fiscal year, for general light construction timbers, sleepers, and piling in Korea, Japan and the Ryukyu Islands and for teak boards in the United States. He indicated the respective purchasing agencies with whom interested exporters could get in touch. He also expressed appreciation for the assistance already given to Korea by member countries of the Commission.
At the conclusion of the general discussion the Commission agreed that member countries should continue to submit progress reports on forest policy in keeping with the outline already established, the next report being due in 1954. The Commission also decided to incorporate into the outline for the report a new item headed "Progress in Land Use Planning", to include progress in the inventory and classification of forest resources, and in the classification of soils.
It was agreed, too, that in their next reports countries should pay special attention to measures taken to stimulate the production and use of lesser known hardwoods, and review marketing prospects, both regional and overseas, for these timbers.
Finally J. C. K. Marshall (Federation of Malaya) gave an amplification of his paper "Sustained Yield and the National Conscience". This was received with acclamation and the Commission unanimously adopted the following resolution:
THE COMMISSION recommends that:1. Member governments consider the advisability of arranging for instruction to be given to all students in schools universities and teacher training colleges on the necessity of orderly long-term development and conservation of the nations' natural resources, including forests.2. Member governments take steps to create in both working productive forests and in protective forests National Forest Parks which can serve as centres of recreation and tourism and help to instil an appreciation of the objects of forestry and of the value of forest conservation in the minds of the general public.
3. The attention of UNESCO be drawn to the need for education in planned long-term development of the renewable natural resources of soil, water, forests and wildlife and in the careful use of nonrenewable mineral resources.
4. FAO initiate a co-ordinated service of visiting lecturers, of posters and other simple information material for reproduction in all languages, to spread the aims and ideals of sustained yield development of forests and other natural resources amongst the peoples of Asia and the Pacific.
Tropical Silviculture and Management
The Commission endorsed the following proposals and recommendations made by a committee set up under the chairmanship of E. J. Strugnell (Federation of Malaya).
Sustained yield: early action should be taken by member governments to extend silvicultural and increment studies in order to improve the sustained yield.
Silvicultural systems in rain forest: in mixed tropical forests further research was urgently needed to devise practicable silvicultural systems which would allow simplification of the composition of the crop without impairing the maximum and perpetual productivity of the site.
Prevention of undesirable changes in forest composition and site factors: the integration of forest industries and complete utilization of each area was a desirable end, provided that silvicultural means could be designed which would prevent stand and site deterioration. It was essential that silviculture should be planned in consonance with technological requirements so that needs could be met from forests managed on a sound ecological basis.
Planting of exotics. The World Meteorological Organisation should recommend a standard scheme of climatic classification and produce a world map of climatic regions on these lines. The choice of exotics for trial planting should be based on such a classification.
Teak. (a) The FAO Conference should be asked to approve the formation of a sub-commission on teak, which should be competent to deal with all matters pertaining to teak production and use, including grading.
(b) The Director-General should be asked to arrange a teak study tour, in the near future, under FAO's Technical Assistance Programme.
Research. (a) There was a most urgent need for co-ordination in planning silvicultural research, for expert advice on research techniques and for specialised training of research officers. The Director-General of FAO was requested to consider means of meeting these needs in the region.
(b) The secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission should investigate the progress made at research institutes in the region in the silviculture and management of dipterocarp rain forest and prepare a statement for the third Session of the Commission, reporting the results achieved, research still required and methods of completing the study.(c) Priority should be accorded by the secretariat to promoting a study of experimental design, plot size and data to be observed, for research into silvicultural treatments of tropical forests. Draft proposals for standard techniques and presentation of results should be prepared for consideration at the Third Session of the Commission.
Wood fuel. FAO should organize a survey of present and future fuelwood requirements in relation to available and potential supplies in member countries and advise on afforestation, cheaper procurement and distribution of fuelwood, and on increasing the efficiency of wood fuel burning equipment.
Financing of silvicultural operations. The cost of regenerating permanent productive forests being a first charge on forest revenue, a portion of forest revenue should be set aside annually as a Forest Fund which would supplement normal silvicultural forest expenditure and enable regeneration work to be continued despite economic fluctuations.
Mangroves. (a) The attention of the Governments concerned should be drawn to the need for preventing the clearing of the protective mangrove fringe in the Pacific Islands.
(b) There was need for organised research on:(i) growth and yield of mangrove and associated species;
(ii) ecology of mangrove species;
(iii) mode of distribution of seed in mangrove forests;
(iv) comparative results of different silvicultural systems.(c) Having regard to the superiority of charcoal over firewood for many purposes, the more complete exploitation that seems to follow from its production, and the possibility it affords for the recovery of other products now wasted, the production of mangrove charcoal should be encouraged, and research into the recovery of such products be undertaken.
(d) Attention was drawn to the desirability of giving more attention to mangrove forestry and of including in delegations to subsequent sessions of the Commission an officer with some knowledge of the problems encountered.
In the light of the discussions on the above conclusions of its committee, the Commission decided to establish a permanent committee on silviculture and management, charged with following up the recommendations of this session of the Commission in regard to silviculture and management.
Aerial Photography and Mensuration in Tropical Forests
The Commission took note of the working papers on this subject submitted for its consideration by the secretariat and various delegations.
After a brief discussion, it was decided to appoint an ad hoc working party with P. Maurand (France) as Chairman, to study the broad aspects of the use of aerial photography in carrying out inventories of tropical forests, and also other general problems of mensuration in tropical forests.
At a later meeting, the Commission received the conclusions of this working party. After discussion of the issues raised, the Commission re-affirmed the resolutions on forest inventories and on enumeration methods adopted by the Forestry and Timber Utilization Conference for Asia and the Pacific, held at Mysore in 1949 (Resolutions Nos. XIV and XV of the Report of the Conference).
While appreciating the efforts made by the countries of the region to make as complete an inventory of their forest resources as possible, the Commission recognised that, in the present varying degrees of economic development of countries in the region, the completion of such inventories in five years as originally laid down was, in some instances, impossible. Nevertheless, by developing to its fullest potentialities the application of aerial survey to tropical forests, the completion of inventories could be greatly accelerated. The Commission recommended, therefore, that FAO should consider establishing a technical panel of experts which would be given the task of encouraging, selecting, and recommending for adoption specific experimental projects to be jointly sponsored by FAO and interested Governments; and assisting with their implementation.
The Commission recognized the increasing importance of statistical methods in studies of forestry and forest products, and suggested that, among the experts appointed to the panel referred to above, there should be one specialist in general statistics who could advise on statistical methods applicable to forestry.
The Commission drew the attention of governments to the multiple use value of air photographs, and urged them to make available existing photographs to all land planning departments. In planning future photography, all such departments should be consulted.
Technical Assistance
W. H. Cummings, Regional Representative of FAO, made Technical Assistance the main theme of his speech delivered to delegates in the Council Chamber, Kuala Lumpur, 6 December. Delegates also had before them a document on the Technical Assistance activities of FAO 1950-1952, and working papers prepared by the secretariat on important regional activities.
At a plenary meeting of the Commission on 10 December, various Technical Assistance officers of the FAO gave an outline of regional and national ETAP projects recently completed or currently in progress. In the subsequent discussion, delegates expressed their appreciation of the Fire Control Study Tour in the United States, the Timber Grading Course in Malaya, the Eucalyptus Study Tour in Australia and the Mechanical Logging Training Course in the Philippines. These projects were good examples of the readiness of member governments to promote the objects of the Technical Assistance Program.
Later discussions revealed many points which would be a valuable guide to the FAO Secretariat in considering future ETAP activities. The Commission recognised that the regulations governing the Technical Assistance Program were drawn up by the Technical Assistance Board, on which the various member governments of the region could exercise influence through the full FAO Conference. Delegations to that Conference should be briefed to support the recommendations put forward by this session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission.
Increased Production of Pulp and Paper
I. T. Haig (FAO) explained to the Commission the origins of the FAO pulp and paper project which was now one of the more important activities in which the Organisation was engaged. Although the short-term position in regard to pulp and paper supplies was vastly changed from that of a year or so ago, the long term position with which FAO was concerned had not altered at all, a fact recognized by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations at its session in New York in the summer of 1952. No one could discount the vast potential demand for paper in Asia, or the importance of increased paper supplies in the fight against illiteracy.
Per Klem (UNTAA) gave the Commission a brief account of what was contemplated for the Philippines in the matter of increased pulp production, and afterwards delegates described the plans envisaged in their various countries. It was felt by some delegates that plans for pulp and paper production in the region, however well intentioned, might result in production costs in excess of current world prices. Enthusiasm for greater production must be tempered by commercial wisdom.
It was appreciated that much more intensive research was needed, both in pulp and paper chemistry and in the proper management of forests that could serve as sources of raw material for mills using new pulping techniques. An Australian delegate described experiences over many years in the pulping of hardwoods and particularly mentioned the need for research into the fundamentals of grinding and the treatment of short, thickerwalled fibres, and bleaching. This was of particular interest with regard to the possibility of pulping mangrove in New Guinea thus integrating the pulp and tanning industries. Various species that were readily pulpable were sensitive to beating and yielded papers with poor tear strength. Australian experience with eucalypts gave hope that some tropical hardwoods might prove suitable for making paper.
Housing and Building Materials
The Commission recognised that adequate housing remained one of the most important problems of the Asia-Pacific Region. Forest products in various forms could play an important role in the solution of this problem. The United Nations had established an Inter-Secretariat Working Party to study all aspects of housing improvement and at its first sitting, held in November 1952 at Delhi, India, a resolution had been adopted emphasizing full collaboration with FAO.
The importance and value of timber, and its wide potentialities as a source of modern building materials, needed emphasis, particularly among administrators, architects, contractors, and others concerned with the direction of housing projects. The Director-General of FAO was asked to continue go-operation with the international and national agencies already working in this field and to establish suitable machinery, under the Expanded Technical Assistance Program, to deal with the problem of the supply and use of modern building materials derived from forest products. The training of personnel, particularly in the use of modern woodworking machinery, should receive attention.
Standardisation and Utilisation
The Commission appointed U Chein Hoe (Burma) as the new Chairman of the permanent committee on standardisation and utilisation. This committee, during the course of the Commission's session, reviewed the reports of its various sub-committees; subsequently the Commission decided that the sub-committees on dimensions, sawn conifers, and sawn hardwoods indigenous to Australia Japan and New Zealand should terminate their activities after the information collected had been circulated among member countries.
The following sub-committees would continue to function:
Testing Methods (A. V. Thomas, Malaya)
Nomenclature (K. A. Chowdhuri, India)
Grading of hardwood logs and squares (G. S. Brown, North Borneo)
Grading of sawn hardwoods - non-teak species (C. O. Flemmich, Singapore).
Visit to Kuala Lumpur
On 5 December, the Commission moved to Kuala Lumpur where, on 6 December, the members were welcomed by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government of the Federation of Malaya and by the Member for Agriculture and Forestry. In his address to the delegates, His Excellency dwelt on the importance of the principles of forest policy enunciated by the Commission at Bangkok in 1950 and subsequently adopted by the FAO Conference, and gave a detailed account of the progress made by Malaya in following these principles. The Member for Agriculture and Forestry also addressed the delegates.
The following excursions were made in and around Kuala Lumpur:
5 December - A visit was made to the new Government timber depot and impregnation plant at Kuala Lumpur, where a demonstration of impregnation of power-line poles with Tanalith was given. The depot has a capacity of 125,000 cubic feet (3,500 m3) of graded, seasoned timber for supply to Government timber-consuming departments.6 December - Sawmills near Kuala Lumpur were inspected where grading under the Malayan Grading Rules was demonstrated.
7 December - The Klang Mangrove Forest Reserves were visited and the technique of stick thinnings was explained.
8 December - Delegates visited the Forest Research Institute at Kepang, and were shown the experimental plantations, arboretum, Forest School and the new Timber Research Laboratory.
Individual delegates took the opportunity of seeing lowland tropical rain forests in Negri Sembilan and Selangor.
FORTHCOMING MEETINGS
|
International Poplar Commission |
Munster and Munich, Germany 29 April - 8 May 1953 |
|
International Chestnut Commission |
Spain and Portugal May - June 1953 |
|
European Forestry Commission |
Rome October 1953 |
|
Seventh Session of FAO Conference |
Rome Nov. - Dec. 1953 |
|
Near East Forestry Commission |
Spring 1954 |
|
Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission |
Spring 1954 |
|
Latin American Forestry Commission |
Spring 1954 |
|
Third Conference on Mechanical |
May 1954 |
|
Fourth World Forestry Congress |
Late 1954 or early 1955 |
