W. C. Lowdermilk

Study of forestry; work with U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Soil Conservation Service, United Nations, and U.S. Water Resources Policy Commission; work in famine prevention program in China, l922-1927; land use survey of Europe and Middle East, l938-1939; consultant work in China, Mexico, Israel, French North Africa, British African colonies, Japan, Yugoslavia, and elsewhere; consultant to Save-the-Redwoods League. Photographs and copies of supporting documents inserted. Appended: copy of bibliography.

The history of civilizations is a record of struggles against the progressive dessication of civilized lands. The more ancient the civilization, the drier and more wasted, usually, is the supporting country. Two major factors are believed to account for the growth of man-made deserts. In the first place, semi-arid to semi-humid regions proved the most favorable sites for the early development of human culture. In the second place, processes of soil erosion are accelerated by the exposure of soil surfaces hitherto protected by complete mantles of vegetation, whether grass or forest, by heavy grazing and cultivation.