That it shall be the duty of the secretary to obtain and publish information respecting the extent and condition of forest lands in this state; to make and carry out rules and regulations for the enforcement of all laws designed to protect forests from fires and from all illegal depredations and destruction, and report the same annually to the governor; and, as far as practicable, to give information and advice respecting the best methods of preserving wood lands and starting new plantations. He shall also, as far as practicable, procure statistics of the amount of timber cut during each year, the purposes for which it is used, and the amount of timber land thus cleared as compared with the amount of land newly brought under timber cultivation, and shall, in general, adopt all such measures as in his judgment may be desirable and effective for the preservation and increase of the timber lands of this state, and shall have direct charge and control of the management of all forest lands belonging to the commonwealth, subject to the provisions of law relative thereto.
71 P.S. § 1201