Town Forests—A Neglected Opportunity

Abstract There are hundreds of towns scattered throughout the eastern states where lumbering and wood-using industries were once an important part in the economic life of the community. Abandoned mill-sites stand like tombstones to these dead industries. Many declining towns can trace the chiefcause of that decline directly to the abuse of the natural resources, especially the forests. Deserted farms are the complement to denuded forest areas. Little hope of recovery for such communities can be found except through the reestablishment of the forests. The private owner is not likelyto undertake this task, but the community itself with state or federal aid can do so. This problem is now in the lap of the forestry profession. What shall we do with it?