The Forestry Commission was created within the Department of the Interior to survey forest conditions. In 1898, this work became the responsibility of the Timber and Forestry Branch and involved the active development and conservation of the forests. A fire protection service was inaugurated in 1900; a forestry station was established in 1904 and in 1906 over 20 timber reserves in the four western provinces were placed under the management of the Superintendent of Forestry. From 1908 to 1911, the Branch also controlled national parks and from 1908 to 1912 irrigation. With the abolition of the Department of the Interior in 1936, Forestry was from 1936 to 1960 a distinct unit of three parent organizations. In 1960 a new Department of Forestry was formed from the old Forestry Branch of the Department of Northern Affairs and Natural Resources and the Forest Biology Division of the Research Branch of the Department of Agriculture. In 1966, this became the Department of Forestry and in 1969, the Department of Fisheries and Forestry.