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16. " The Third World Forestry Congress commending the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO) Recommends (a) " That FAO prepare a statement of forestry principles for the consideration of member nations, (b) " That FAO assist those nations which are now formulating their forest policy, (c) " That the annual Conference of FAO explore whatever further steps member Governments consider appropriate for the application of the principles stated above." New Zealand should continue to co-operate with FAO, and its statement of forestry principles should be carefully examined when available. It should, however, be borne in mind that the problems confronting New Zealand differ very materially from those confronting Europe and other countries facing a diminishing supply of wood, and allowance made accordingly. The abnormality of age classes in exotic forests, the preponderance of which were planted in five years, is a problem peculiar to New Zealand. 17. The discussions and resolutions of the Congress are classified and summarized according to the principal subject under review as follows: — Section I —Silvi.cs and Silviculture A. Development and Silvicultural Treatment of Virgin Forests 18. " The Congress recognizes that the natural laws regulating the evolution of vegetative associations are similar in tropical and other countries, that their evaluation should constitute the chief item of research in all countries, and that knowledge of them should everywhere form the basis of the silvicultural treatments of virgin forests." The principle is recognized in New Zealand and is being acted upon by the Forest Research Institute to the extent of available qualified staff. B. Biology and Technique of Afforestation 24. " The Congress recognizes the importance of obtaining the fullest information on the synecology of forest communities and their status in relation to natural successions and climaxes." 25. "It recognizes the importance of exact data on the evolution of the biological complex of forest soils. Further studies on root physiology and on the effect on the soil of a tree cover of the species most used in afforestation appear very desirable. The Congress recommends that the FAO and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations be asked to give special attention to this subject." Research on forest soils in relation to tree cover is to be undertaken by the Forest Research Institute; the recommendation of the Congress emphasizes the specialized nature of this research, which calls for a knowledge of forestry as well as forest soils. 12,7. " The Congress desires to have more precise information on the effect of exotic species on natural forest communities and their sites. Such knowledge will provide guidance for the choice of species for afforestation, economic questions being also taken into consideration. An international documentation on this point and on the technique of afforestation in the natural regions as well as on the various cases in which reafforestation is an indispensable or complementary method for soil conservation seems to be desirable."

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