Whether, or how far, the utility of forests is brought out in a particular country depends on its special conditions, such as (1) the position of a country, its communications, and the control which it exercises over other countries, such as colonies; (2) the quantity and quality of substitutes for forest produce available in the country; (3) the value of land and labour, and the returns which land yields if used for other purposes; (4) the density of population; (5) the amount of capital available for investment; (6) the climate and configuration, especially the geographical position, whether inland or on the border of the sea, &c. No general rule can be laid down, showing whether forests are required in a country, or, if so, to what extent; that question must be answered according to the special circumstances of each case.
The subjoined table shows the forests of various European states:—
| Countries. | Area of Forests, in Acres. | Percentage of Total Area of Country under Forest. | Percentage of Forest Area belonging to the State. | Forest Area per Head of Population, in Acres. |
| Sweden | 49,000,000 | 48 | 33 | 9.5 |
| Norway | 17,000,000 | 21 | 28 | 7.6 |
| Russia, including Finland | 518,000,000 | 40 | 61 | 5.9 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 6,400,000 | 50 | 78 | 4.0 |
| Bulgaria | 7,600,000 | 30 | 30 | 2.3 |
| Turkey | 11,200,000 | 20 | · · | 1.7 |
| Servia | 3,900,000 | 32 | 37 | 1.5 |
| Rumania | 6,400,000 | 18 | 40 | 1.3 |
| Spain | 21,200,000 | 17 | 84 | 1.2 |
| Hungary | 22,500,000 | 28 | 15 | 1.2 |
| Austria | 24,000,000 | 32 | 7 | .9 |
| Greece | 2,000,000 | 13 | 80 | .85 |
| Luxemburg | 200,000 | 30 | · · | .82 |
| Switzerland | 2,100,000 | 20 | 5 | .7 |
| Germany | 35,000,000 | 26 | 34 | .6 |
| France | 24,000,000 | 18 | 12 | .6 |
| Italy | 10,400,000 | 15 | 4 | .3 |
| Denmark | 600,000 | 6 | 24 | .25 |
| Belgium | 1,300,000 | 18 | 5 | .2 |
| Portugal | 770,000 | 3.5 | 8 | .15 |
| Holland | 560,000 | 7 | ? | .1 |
| Great Britain | 3,000,000 | 4 | 3 | .07 |
These data exhibit considerable differences, since the percentage of the forest area varies from 3.5 to 50, and the area per head of population from .07 to 9.5 acres. Russia, Sweden and Norway may as yet have more forest than they require for their own population. On the other hand, Great Britain and Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Holland, and even Belgium, France and Italy have not a sufficient forest area to meet their own requirements; at the same time, they are all sea-bound countries, and importation is easy, while most of them are under the influence of moist sea winds, which reduces to a subordinate position the importance of forests for climatic reasons.
Intimately connected with the area of forests in a country is the state of ownership—whether they belong to the state, corporations or to private persons. Where, apart from the financial aspect and the supply of work, forests are not required for the sake of their indirect effects, and where importation from other countries is easy and assured, the government of the country need not, as a rule, trouble itself to maintain or acquire forests. Where the reverse conditions exist, and especially where the cost of transport over long distances becomes prohibitive, a wise administration will take measures to assure the maintenance of a suitable proportion of the country under forest. This can be done either by maintaining or constituting a suitable area of state forests, or by exercising a certain amount of control over corporation and even private forests. Such measures are more called for in continental countries than in those which are sea-bound, as is proved by the above statistics.
Supply of Timber—Imports and Exports.—The following table shows the net imports and exports of European countries (average data, calculated from the returns of recent years).
The only timber-exporting countries of Europe are Russia, Sweden, Norway, Austria-Hungary and Rumania; all the others either have only enough for their own consumption, or import timber. Great Britain and Ireland import now upwards of 10,000,000 tons a year, Germany about 4,600,000 tons, and Belgium about 1,300,000 tons. Holland, France, Portugal, Spain and Italy are all importing countries, as also are Asia Minor, Egypt and Algeria. The west coast of Africa exports hardwoods, and imports coniferous timber. The Cape and Natal import considerable quantities of pine and fir wood. Australasia exports hardwoods and some Kauri pine from New Zealand, but imports larger quantities of light pine and fir timber. British India and Siam export teak and small quantities of fancy woods. The West Indies and South America export hardwoods, and import pine and fir wood. The United States of America will not much longer be a genuine exporting country, since they import already almost as much timber from Canada as they export. Canada exports considerable quantities of timber. The Dominion has still a forest area of 1,250,000 sq. m., equal to 38% of the total area, and giving 165 acres of forest for every inhabitant. Although only about one-third of the forest area can be called regular timber land, Canada possesses an enormous forest wealth, with which she might supply permanently nearly all other countries deficient in material, if the governing bodies in the several provinces would only determine to stop the present fearful waste caused by axe and fire, and to introduce a regular system of management. As matters stand, the supplies of the most valuable timber of Canada, the white or Weymouth pine (Pinus strobus), are nearly exhausted, the great stores of spruce in the eastern provinces are being rapidly destroyed, and the forests of Douglas fir in the western provinces have been attacked for export to the United States and to other countries.
Net Imports and Exports of European Countries.
| Countries. | Quantities in Tons. | Value in £ Sterling. | ||
| Imports. | Exports. | Imports. | Exports. | |
| United Kingdom | 10,004,000 | · · | 26,540,000 | · · |
| Germany | 4,600,000 | · · | 14,820,000 | · · |
| Belgium | 1,300,000 | · · | 5,040,000 | · · |
| France | 1,230,000 | · · | 3,950,000 | · · |
| Italy | 620,000 | · · | 2,100,000 | · · |
| Spain | 470,000 | · · | 1,500,000 | · · |
| Denmark | 470,000 | · · | 1,250,000 | · · |
| Switzerland | 204,000 | · · | 480,000 | · · |
| Holland | 180,000 | · · | 720,000 | · · |
| Servia | 110,000 | · · | 160,000 | · · |
| Portugal | 60,000 | · · | 200,000 | · · |
| Greece | 35,000 | · · | 130,000 | · · |
| Rumania | · · | 400,000 | · · | 840,000 |
| Norway | · · | 1,300,000 | · · | 2,200,000 |
| Austria-Hungary with | ||||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | · · | 3,996,000 | · · | 11,400,000 |
| Sweden | · · | 4,460,000 | · · | 7,930,000 |
| Russia with Finland | · · | 6,890,000 | · · | 10,440,000 |
| Total | 19,283,000 | 17,046,000 | 56,890,000 | 32,810,000 |
| Net Imports | 2,237,000 | 24,080,000 | ||
| These net imports are received from non-European countries. They consist chiefly of valuable hardwoods, like teak, mahogany, eucalypts and others. | ||||
Taking the remaining stocks of the whole earth together, it may be said that a sufficient quantity of hardwoods is available, but the only countries which are able to supply coniferous timber for export on a considerable scale are Russia, Sweden, Norway, Austria and Canada. As these countries have practically to supply the rest of the world, and as the management of their forests is far from satisfactory, the question of supplying light pine and fir timber, which forms the very staff of life of the wood industries, must become a very serious matter before many years have passed. Unmistakable signs of the coming crisis are everywhere visible to all who wish to see, and it is difficult to over-state the gravity of the problem, when it is remembered, for instance, that 87% of all the timber imported into Great Britain consists of light pine and fir, and that most of the other importing countries are similarly situated. In some of these countries little or no room exists for the extension of woodland, but this statement does not apply to Great Britain and Ireland, which contain upwards of 12,000,000 acres of waste land, and 12,500,000 acres of mountain and heath land used for light grazing. One-fourth of that area, if put under forest, would produce all the timber now imported which can be grown in Britain, that is to say, about 95% of the total.