233

The Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service of that Department, is hereby authorized and directed, and with the cooperation and advice of the Puerto Rico Water Resources Authority, Isabela Irrigation Service, Commonwealth Aqueduct and Sewerage Service, and U.S. Soil Conservation Service, to engage in detailed land surveys and classifications and to conduct such action programs as the Secretary may then deem necessary on land both private and public within watersheds draining to existing and prospective reservoir projects, said action programs to consist of but not be limited to:(a) The installation and administration of simple soil conservation practices on those clean tilled lands which may continue to be so tilled without injury to watershed values.(b) To furnish and plant forest trees and to permit present owners and tenants to reside on and to raise food crops between the rows of trees and those lands that may not be clean tilled without injury to watershed values but which can thus be made to contribute to the production of both food and wood products.(c) To plant forest trees on those lands not capable of growing other than forest products; Provided, That the

ut which can thus be made to contribute to the production of both food and wood products.(c) To plant forest trees on those lands not capable of growing other than forest products; Provided, That the term 'forest trees' as used herein shall be considered to include coffee trees and their shade trees; Provided, further, That prior to beginning any conservation or tree planting work on private lands, as authorized by §§ 232–235 of this title, the Secretary shall enter into such cooperative agreement with the owner or tenant as will require said owner or tenant, in return for the public expenditures to be made on his land, to be responsible for the subsequent care and maintenance of the conservation practices and plantations, and such agreement as will otherwise protect the investment and interest of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. History —May 8, 1945, No. 97, p. 342, § 2, eff. July 1, 1945.