It was not until 1891 that the first forest reserve, the Yellowstone Park Timberland Reserve, was created by special proclamation of President Harrison.

Later it became part of the National Park reserves.

Although the Division of Forestry had no special powers to oversee and direct the management of the forest reserves, during the next six years a total of 40,000,000 acres of valuable timberland were so designated and set aside.

At the request of the Secretary of the Interior, the National Academy of Sciences therefore worked out a basis for laws governing national forests.

Congress enacted this law in 1897.