Private tree planting falls 24 per cent

Press, 16 August 1978, Page 10

Private tree planting falls 24 per cent

Parliamentary reporter The prediction last year that private planting of trees could not be maintained at the 1976 level, unless land became available and economic conditions improved, has proved correct, says the annual report of tyre Director-General of Forests. In 1977 only 19,700 ha were planted by the private sector, compared with 26,000 ha in 1976. This fall of 24 per cent Is attributed mainly to the inability of several big companies to get access to land because of difficulties in negotiating leases of privately-owned land, and in one case because of delays in arriving at deci-

sions on land use lyPlanting by the Forest Service also dropped, from 22,000 ha in 1977 i to 19,800 ha, making a national total of 39,500 ha, compared with 48,000 ha in 1976. The decline in new planting by the Forest Service was similarly in part the result of a shortage of suitable land in regions where workers were available under the Government’s special employment scheme. The department’s normal approved programme of 16,200 ha was achieved, but the additional area planted under the special employment. scheme was. considerably less than in 1976.