The Private Land Forestry Problem in the Southwest

The Southwestern Section of the Society of American Foresters has 135 members, 132 of which are employed by federal land use and conservation agencies. Because of this large percentage of members in federal agencies there apparently has been a tendency to think of Society problems in this section as heing synonymous with federal programs. As a majority of the members are dealing with some phase of these programs continually there also has been an inclination on the part of some to feel that an active Society program for this section is not warranted. Originally a request was made for a review of the farm forestry program hut as farm forestry has several different meanings, depending upon the use of the term, it is helieved worthwhile to consider farm forestry, ranch forestry, and straight private-land forestry as it pertains to the Southwest. This broader subject is briefly presented here.