The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1939. SURVEY OF FOREST AREAS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20732, 16 February 1939, Page 8

The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1939. SURVEY OF FOREST AREAS

Figures drawn up by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, indicate the magnitude of the task undertaken by the Government in the protection and planting of forests and the prevention of erosion and tire. Maps have been prepared showing that in 1850 New Zealand’s forest areas aggregated 31,719,000 acres. The progress of settlement by 1010 had reduced that area to 19,123,000 acres, and by 193 S the total area under forest had dwindled to 12,000,000 acres. In recent years the rate of forest destruction has decreased rapidly, but chiefly because most of the land remaining under forest is wholly unsuitable for settlement. There is no question that the process has been carried too far, however, and prudence should have called a halt long ago. It was not until Nature objected violently that New Zealand realised, too late, the damage that had boon done. The countrv is now fully conscious ot the need to conserve and promote soil coverage, but the work is of staggering proportions. As the Minister says, it will take years to make protective measures effective. A long-range plan must lie evolved, so that each year a certain amount of the programme shall be undertaken. When the thousands of streams, rivers and watersheds, and the miles of denuded and scarred areas in the country are remembered, the difficulty of the task can be realised. There can be no shrinking from the duty, for every year that passes adds to the complexity of the problem and to the toll exacted by the elements.

Some progress has been made in recent years, but only over a comparatively small area. National scenic parks and reserves cover an area of 4,386,000 acres, and in addition, 7,900,000 acres have been made either permanent or provisional State forest reserves. A further 458,000 acres have been planted in exotic trees. There are therefore 12,754,000 acres which may be considered comparatively safe from erosiou and open only to the danger of fire —a menace that is constantly with those charged with the duty of conserving the forests, whether native or exotic. Most of the land which is the source of the chief trouble is at present beyond the jurisdiction of the State, freehold lands comprising 21,591,072 acres. For this reason Mr Langstone foreshadows the taking of extensive powers to prevent the destruction of bush which should be conserved and to give authority to plant privately-owned as well as Crown lands wherever planting should be done.

Finance will present the major difficulty, but it will be necessary for the Government to decide whether many of the men now employed on various public works as unemployment relief might not be better employed in forestry, much of which, if scientifically managed, should give a good return in the years to come. Much of the country that is now growing only weeds would grow suitable timber frees, and timber, even of the softer kinds, will become, an increasingly valuable asset as the world’s timber resources decline.