Forest Products from Latin America

Urgent needs for lumber to meet reconstruction needs in war-torn Europe has turned attention to both North and South America. The author points out the immense potentialities of South American forests. Realistically examined little prospect can be held forth for their early development to meet present world needs. Physical handicaps are great; human and governmental handicaps even greater. Lest we feel self-rightous and our southern neighbors offended, we should recognize that pointing out the mote in our neighbor's eye may help us discover the beam in our own. To the Europeans needing lumber the waste in unutilized forest growing space, in timber harvesting, and in lumber use in the United States must appear more inexcusable than the slowness of Latin Americans to exploit their forests.