1 APPENDITX G.
2 PROGRESS REPORT
3 OF
4 FOREST ADMINISTRATION
5 PROVINCE OF BRITISH BURMA
6 1871-72.
7 BY CAPTAIN W.J SEATON,
8 CONSERVATOE OF FORESTS
9 REVIEW BY THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER
10 Na 2060, patrp Ranaoon, 13Tm Avaust 1872.
11 Frem W B Maononp, Esq, Asssstant Secretary to the Chief Commisaoner, Brituh Burma, Pablee
12 Works Department
13 To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Agriculture, Revenue and Commerce.
14 I am directed by the Chief Commissioner to submit the Report on the
15 forest Admunistration of this Province for the year 1871-72, with the remark
16 that Mr. Eden believes that the orders passed on the preceding year’s Report
17 regarding its preparation have becn carefully attended to. Before commenting
18 in detail on the Report, the Chief Commissioner would point out that the Con
19 servator has, in three or four instances, referred to matters which should fall
20 properly in the record of operations of the current year This is notably the
21 case with the subjects contained in paragraphs 2, 5, 22, 35 and 47.
22 2. The topographical survey and examination of the Cutch producing
23 tracts of the Irrawaddy valley is a very important work and should be pushed
24 on as rapidly as possible. Reproduction of this valuable staple has been mate-
25 rially affected by the absence of proper measures for increasing the trees. The
26 subject of the reservation of the cutch forests is one to which the Conservator
27 should be requested to give his most earnest attention. The extent to which
28 the mischief has gone will be gathered from a perusal of paragraphs 73, 74, 75
29 of the Conservator’s report. It seems to the Chicf Commissioner that the cutch
30 crop 1s hkely to be so valuable that regular carefully selected tracts should be
31 reserved and planted with cutch and worked on an organized scheme No inter-
32 ference need then be exercised in respect to the cutch trees outside the reserves
33 This Seems to be such an important part of Revenue, that probably one officer
34 should be employed solely in superintendine cutch cultivation. The Conservator
35 will be asked to prepare a report on the above subject.
36 3. Purng tho year the demarcation of 3519 acres was sanctioned in the
37 Sittang Division of the Toungoo District. The total area sanctioned throughout
38 the Province amounts now to 85,538 acres or 133 square miles Up to
39 the close of 1870-71, 48,981 acres had been actually demarcated and during
40 the year under review 30,758 acres have been demarcated. The total area
41 aet apart throughout the Province as State Reserve Foresta thus amounts to
42 19,739 ‘acres or 124 square miles. This is not a very arge aroa, and much of it
43 was solected so far back as 1865, the Chief Commissioner is therefore glad to infer
44 {rom paragraph 4 of the Report, that proposals for reserving areas in the Prome
45 Division, approaching 400 square mules, will be laid before him for approval