HIGH ALTITUDE FORESTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 32, 23 May 1947, Page 8

HIGH ALTITUDE FORESTS

ESTABLISHMENT in n.z. The possibility of establishing high altitude forests in New Zealand was commented on by Mr H. A. Fullarton, a senior engineer, of the Publif- Works Department, in a recent uddress to the technology section of the Wellington branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Mr Fullarton has recently returned to New Zealand after having served for three years as technical supervisor to the New Zealand Supply Mission in Washington. New Zealand forest growth usually petered out at about 4poo feet, said Mr Fullarton. It came as a surprise, therefore, to find that healthy forest growth persisted in many parts of the United States, even in rocky territory, up to elevations in excess of 10,000 feet. He suggested that it might be possible to establish, by experiment, exotic birches, spruces, and other high altitude trees in New Zealand up to elevations of 5000 or 6000 feet. If this was possible, three worthwhile objectives would be reached—the reduction in soil erosion, selective milling in accessible areas, and the great improvement of the scenic aspects of many of the National Parks.