NEW SUBSIDY Trees To Fight Soil Erosion

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30405, 2 April 1964, Page 14

NEW SUBSIDY Trees To Fight Soil Erosion

"The Press” Special Service

TE AROHA, April 1.

A scheme to encourage more tree planting has been approved by the Government.

It will run in conjunction with the farm forestry scheme and subsidised tree planting for erosion control. In his report to the Hauraki Catchment Board, the secretary, Mr C. H. Walsh, said the scheme was intended to encourage the afforestation of land which was Eroding or liable to erode, or on which A cover of trees would reduce peak flows and soil deposits on lands below. The expenditure of relatively small sums to subsidise afforestation could be more than offset by savings on the costs of flood prevention and control. Mr Walsh said the subsidy rate would be limited to £1 for £2 on the total cost of establishment, not exceeding £25 an acre.

It would be assessed in par-

ticular cases on the amount of benefit likely to be gained from planting. The subsidy would be payable on costs of land preparation, tree stocks, planting, fencing, blanking and release cutting, but would extend only to expenses incurred for three years from the time of

planting. Applications would be restricted to a minimum of 10 acres and a maximum of 200 acres in any one year. The over-all scheme would be limited to 4500 acres a year or 22,500 acres for the first five years. The scheme was suggested by the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council.

It will be administered by the Forest Service.