WHEN I was invited to write a short article on multiple use forestry in Switzerland, I was at first somewhat bewildered. The term multiple use forestry, as applied to the general policy of the administration of our National Forests, is not found in its equivalent, in any of the four official languages of Switzerland; German, French, Italian, or Romansh. This does not mean, however, that the principal of multiple use forestry is not recognized in Switzerland. On the contrary, multiple use of the forests rests on customs which date back to prehistoric times and is therefore much older than the concepts of forestry as restricted to wood production alone. It is, indeed, the recognition of the many benefits other than wood, derived from the forest, which have had a decisive influence on the formulation of forestry legislation and the development of Swiss forestry practices.

Published Annually by the Ames Forestry Club.

THE FACT that a forestry organization is interested in the subject of wildlife management and multiple-use forestry is testimony, if any were needed, to the advanced thinking that has developed since the time when forest and forestry management were widely regarded as important solely for the production of saw logs. It is indicative of dearer understanding of the basic interrelationships that exist in managing natural resources.

FEW PEOPLE would disagree with the principles of multiple use management of the national forests. It is just common sense to put public lands to their highest public use and to utilize all of the resources, so long as the land is protected and its stability and productiveness are preserved.

FORESTERS are faced with a great challenge. This is to achieve ever increasing productivity from the nation's wild lands and at the same time maintain those lands in such a condition as to insure useful runoff to streams and ground water basins.