ee heh ee ah, “a the enn ah a a bine: . . * Phi bids? Lua ! accompanied by an economic develop- ment plan fully justifying the homestead area and discussing other potential economic developments to be undertaken by the prospective homesteaders. Since that time, the High Commissioner has not declared any new areas for homesteading. The Nathan Report has pointed up the validity of the administrative directive by analytic comments which state that the Government’s homesteading program serves “‘to compound the difficulties and to destroy the possibility of using the land resources for the best interests of the people. The ... homesteading program does not encourage either the wise use of land or investment in land improvement.” The recommendation of the report is to suspend issuance ofall homestead permits (village and agriculture) except those which are part of a governmental master plan or an approved agriculture or village community development program. Master planning of the Territory is in its final Stages and the Administration is seriously considering implementation of the Nathan Report’s recommendation. Population Pressures Except for a few outer islands in the Truk and Marshall Islands Districts where overpopulation is serious, population pressure in general is nota problem. A number of the larger islands have considerable areas of public domain and resettlement on such land is feasible for future population expansion. The Territory at one time supported a much larger population than its present 94,469 inhabitants. Even taking into account possible exaggeration in early figures, present popula58 1 tion figures have not yet reached leve of pre-European times. Perhaps th most dramatic example of populatic decline can be found in Yap wheretl present population of 6,870 is only fraction of the estimated pre-Europe: population, Similar examples can | given for Ponape, estimated at or time to have had 35,000, almo double its present population, and f: the Mariana Islands and Palau. Ponape, on Babelthuap Island Palau, and in Yap, scores of desert: village sites can be seen. Erosion Erosion is an ever-present proble in the high islands where heavy rainf prevails. Lumbering operations ai intensified agricultural methods past administrations stripped certa areas of protective forest cover. ““Sla and burn” agricultural techniques us on hillsides by indigenous inhabitar plus accidental fires during dry perio also have aggravated erosion con tions. On the coral atolls coconut pa and other flora tend to protect the s from erosion. Severe damage occasic ally occurs as in the disastr¢ typhoon of 1958 which denuded pa of Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islar District, of top soil and drastica changed the configuration of cert. islands in this atoll. Soil fertility is sufficient for t subsistence farming that is practic: Where intensified cropping is in: tuted, however, soil amendments m’ be provided to sustain continu productive yields. Plant and Animal Pests and Diseases Under the Director of Agricultu the staff entomologist and the st ye « ee atee ae Aiea + <i % i * Part VI—Economic Advancemt