Protective Function of Bush "A Safeguard”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29983, 19 November 1962, Page 18

Protective Function of Bush "A Safeguard”

Tracts of bush which have a protective function are, in such a mountainous country as New Zealand, even more important than those which yield timber. “They are our safeguards to the use of the lowlands,” said the Director-General of Forests (Mr A. L. Poole) in a recent address to a Masterton Rotary meeting, and reported in “Forestry News,” the journal of the Forest Service. “They are therefore as important as any others of tomorrow’s trees.” Protection was the main function of the whole of the Tararua forest, fc r instance, said Mr Poole. It was also of great importance for the production of water for domestic use.

“Already, 100,000 acres, or 30 per cent, of the forest catchments, are harnessed for this purpose, or for hydroelectricity,” said Mr Poole. •‘ln time to come, as the settlements grow on either side of the mountains, almost the whole of the forest will be used for water production. “It must be managed for this purpose, even though this management might only entail. for the time being, control of noxious animals. As time goes on, and a knowledge of the hydrology of the rivers and streams grows, management will become more refined,” he said. Another great use of such a forest as on the Tararua Range was for recreation, said Mr Poole. It was a wonderful recreation area —a great “Outward Bound school” for young and old alike.

“The Forest Service, in Its stewardship ot the forest, has taken full account of this aspect, and facilities for the type of recreation a rugged area such as this provides, will increase as the years go on,” said Mr Poole, In fact, almost all mountain land in New Zealand, whether national park or State forest, or under other tenure, should, in time, be developed to some extent or other for recreation, he said. Such areas would provide magnificent playgrounds for a growing population.