LAND CLASSIFICATION SURVEY OF THE NATIONAL PARKS During the past year the educational division has cooperated with the California Forest Experiment Station in a forest type survey of the State of California, and forest type maps have been prepared for Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, the field work being accomplished by the local park staffs. Similar land classification maps are now being prepared for all of the national parks. These are not only exceedingly important scientifically but are vitally needed in forest fire-control activities.

PHOTOGRAPHIC ACTIVITIES STARTED IN THE PARKS

Dr. Frank R. Oastler secured a grant of $1,000 through the American Association of Museums for the preparation of lantern slides to be used in educational activities in Yellowstone National Park. These are being prepared under Doctor Oastler's personal supervision.

So important is the establishment of a photographic department in connection with the educational division that the matter was laid before a friend of the national parks by the chief naturalist, and sufficient funds were secured to establish a photographic department and provide for its operation to July 1, 1930. George A. Grant was appointed as photographer for the educational division, funds being contributed to the Park Service for this purpose. By request of the donor, the fund contributed for the purchase of photographic equipment and supplies is being administered by the trustees of the Yosemite Natural History Association, contributions being made to the Park Service as needed. Photographer Grant devoted the summer season of 1929 to field work in the Southwest, making hundreds of negatives in Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Sequoia National Parks and in the Southwestern National Monuments.

Summary of current educational activities in the national parks for the year ended September 30, 1929

ANSEL F. HALL, Chief Forester, Berkeley, Calif. JOHN D. COFFMAN, Fire Control Expert The work of the forestry division, which is associated with the educational division, is devoted chiefly to the protection of park forests against fire, insects, tree diseases, and other injury. The appointment of John D. Coffman as fire-control expert has resulted in great strides being made in the organization of our fire-protection forces in the national parks, and his accomplishments in this field should be specially mentioned.

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FORESTRY POLICY

During the winter of 1928 a forestry policy was codified by the chief forester. After being studied and revised by the director, it was approved and now forms the basis for forestry activities in the national parks.

FIRE PLANS

During the past year a detailed survey has been made of the fire hazard in Glacier, Sequoia, Yosemite, Lassen Volcanic, Crater Lake, and Mount Rainier National Parks, and Muir Woods and Pinnacles National Monuments. Based upon the detailed reports prepared by the fire-control expert, comprehensive plans have been made for the prevention and suppression of forest fires in these areas. These were approved by the director, and the plans for Glacier, Sequoia, Yosemite, and Lassen Volcanic National Parks were put into effect during the fire season of 1929, resulting in greatly increased efficiency and economy in fire control.

A condensed analysis of our forest-fire situation in the national parks during the season of 1928 is appended to this report. Owing to the fact that the present annual report must be submitted before the close of the fire season, it is impossible at this time to include a similar report for the season of 1929. During the past year forestry headquarters has offered assistance to the park superintendents in the preparation of estimates for fire control and has acted as a clearing house for the cooperative purchase of equipment, tools, etc. The cooperation received from the Forest Service in the matter of purchases has greatly reduced expenditures in many items.

Forestry headquarters, through Fire Control Expert Coffman, assisted in training rangers and other local personnel, in fire control methods in Sequoia, Yosemite, Glacier, and Mount Rainier National Parks.

During the past year a fire code for national park buildings was produced at forestry headquarters in cooperation with the Forest Service and the National Board of Fire Underwriters, and submitted to the director for approval through the landscape architectural division.

INSECT CONTROL

Forestry headquarters acts as a clearing house for the reporting of insect infestations in the national parks, and during the past year has been in constant touch with the Bureau of Entomology. The heartiest cooperation has been received from the latter organization. Field investigations to determine the seriousness of insect infestations are conducted under their auspices and actual control measures, although carried out under Park Service administration, were planned and supervised by them.

An especially severe attack by the mountain pine beetle in Crater Lake National Park made it necessary to transfer funds from practically all of the other parks where money had been allotted for insect control, and all these funds were devoted to the stamping out of this exceedingly bad outbreak. Due to the fact that such infestations flare up without previous warning, it is sincerely hoped that, in the future, appropriations for insect control can be set aside in a lump sum so as to provide for the utilization of these funds in the parks where they are most needed.

TREE DISEASES

The most important tree disease threatening the forests of the national parks is the white pine blister rust. An intensive survey of the situation in Acadia National Park was made by the blister rust control, and careful plans were made for the eradication of Ribes.

The office of blister rust control of the Bureau of Plant Industry also cooperated with the Park Service to the extent of a careful field examination in Mount Rainier, Crater Lake, and Glacier National Parks. Requests for appropriations for the control of this tree disease will be based upon these careful field surveys.

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