A PEEP INTO THE FUTURE-THE APEX OF OUR PROSPERITY.

Forest and Bird, Issue 11, 1 October 1926, Page 1

A PEEP INTO THE FUTURE-THE APEX OF OUR PROSPERITY.

(By Capt. E. V. Sanderson, R.A.0.U.)

The timber value of our forests is not the most important side of the utility of our forests, important though it is, but the climatic effects of forests and prevention of erosion are the more important.

Taking New Zealand as a whole, it is a narrow strip of land rising tent-fashion about the centre, and no part is far removed from the sea. By far the greater part of our lands are steep and often very precipitous. Exceptions there are, of course, like the Canterbury Plains. The extent of our firstclass land is very limited.

Now, the soil covering of such a country is extremely difficut to maintain in situ, owing to erosion, which is a steady run-down of the surface-covering, ever increasing in intensity, but at present so gradual that it passes unobserved by the majority. It is caused by the tramping of stock, wind, rain, fires, etc., loosening the most valuable top soil and causing it to be then carried always downward and finally away to sea. The discolouring of the sea after a heavy rain is caused by some of the best of our soil going out to sea. Denudation is easily seen on much of the older settled country, where the subsoil on spurs and hillside slopes is becoming more visible year by year. Lands subject to floods are in some cases benefited by this erosion to the extent of deposited silt inches in depth, after flood. On the other hand, others of our better lands adjoining rivers are destroyed and replaced by shingle, the stones coming down the creeks when the hill forests are damaged or destroyed.

How best to check this erosion on our pasture lands economically is difficult to ascertain. Fertilising or planting and fencing all ridges, if economically possible, would certainly mitigate the evil. The final result of this erosive action through progressive deterioration is replacement of grass with noxious weeds, because as Nature abhors a void, the bare ground will invite growth which stock will not or cannot eat. Moreover, as the carrying capacity lessens, the capital is not available for eradication of noxious plants, with the result that gorse, blackberry, etc., will spread rapidly, certainly checking erosion to a degree, but further lessening the value of our lands. Much of the precipitous country would deteriorate down to bare rock.

So much for our pasture lands, hut when it comes to the gradual forest-denuding of our main backbone ranges and their foothills, the final result of this can be nothing less than appalling, as the freed stones would come down, destroying most of our best land. Our rainfall would be spasmodic and lessening, alternating between floods and droughts. New Zealand would be a wind-swept country with a bare rocky

range in the centre. Semi-desert conditions would prevail, and our island home be not worth while living in. The only thing not subject to erosion would be the interest on our national debt.

Thus, if the value of efficient conservation is not realised, New Zealand may even now, as has been asserted by visitors, have already reached the apex of its prosperity. The three main essentials to the preservation of our forests are: elimination of animals, abolition of the fire risk, and protection of our birds. The animal menace I place first, as much of our forest will not burn in its natural condition. Animals destroy the forest floor, which more effectually prevents erosion even than the tree roots, and is soil covering in formation. Fire, although extremely important, might take second place. And thirdly, no forests in the world rely so much on the activities of their bird life for tlieir existence as ours, because our forests are largely dependent on native birds for the distribution of their seed, for pollination, and, above all. for the keening of injurious insect life in check; therefore the birds must be preserved for economic reasons alone, apart from the fact that they are also unique and wonderful.

Now, are we doing anything worth while to conserve, our indigenous forests and birds? But little interest in the matter appears to be shown by those in authority; nothing much is heard of the value of our forests other than their timber value. No attempt is made at encouraging the regeneration of the great kauri and other areas which, in many instances, merely require the exclusion of animals and fire, and they would replace themselves. Timber growing companies and the authorities alike appear bent on planting second and thirdgrade exotics, so well has the doctrine that our native trees are slow-growing been preached, regardless of the fact that little or no research has been made in the matter. Further, many of the exotics planted are of a soil-impoverishing nature, and of a very doubtful future timber or other value; in fact, it has been somewhat aptly said of this matter, anything is good enough for the New Zealander so long as it is not a New Zealander, even Pinus Insignis. Our own wonderful and essential forests are good enough as a dumping ground for all manner of hurtful wild animals.

Scenic reserves, sanctuaries, etc., are under the care of various Departments, whose Ministers are mostly advised by officers whose various duties leave little or no opportunity of studying the intricacies of conservation and of observing

actual field conditions, and they are therefore largely dependent on information obtained from sources, some of which is certainly tendered, more for individual than national benefit. The policy of these Departments seems to be, while still retaining a controlling voice, to delegate the administration to other bodies, whose efforts at conservation are disunited, and obtain very mediocre results. The whole business thus ends in medley, as there is no common policy, no unity of purpose, and therefore little efficiency.

So far as the protection of our native birds is concerned, the administration of the Act is nobody’s business. Acclimatisation Societies give a little assistance with six or eight paid rangers, whose time is mostly occupied in looking after trout, opossums, deer, game birds, etc., from which sources they derive their revenue. The police also give their 'sympathy and helping hand occasionally, but their force is fully occupied amongst the populace and is, moreover, not trained or experienced in ranging. Such is the state of affairs on which the future well-being of New Zealand is hinged.

New Zealand’s future most important primary produce may well become forests, owing to the effects of erosion producing conditions unsuitable for pastoral purposes. Why not, then, take time by the forelock and demonstrate that we are a really wise, statesmanlike, big-thinking people Let us straightway decide which lands are immediately required for agricultural and pastoral purposes; borrow money as required to re-forest the balance with timber trees of good timber value; conserve with zealous care our indigenous forests, and regenerate them wherever likely to be profitable; make very sure by periodical expert stocktaking that we are on the right lines as recommended by Sir Frank Heath, and as every sound commercial organisation does then surely with true economic, scientific forestry we shall find we have not already reached the apex of our prosperity, but that we are enabled, as these forests mature and with the probably greatly enhanced timber values, to repay the borrowed money with compound interest and net a huge profit to the State, besides employing many thousands in the most healthful, natural, and invigorating occupation possible, leaving behind us a great heritage in our forests and native birds, which our Creator left to our charge, and which we could then honestly say we did not fail to cherish and preserve, for which our children and our children’s children would look back upon us as wise and great forefathers whose work and example should be revered and perpetuated.