SAND DRIFT MENACE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 4 January 1926, Page 10

SAND DRIFT MENACE.

AFFORESTATION ADVOCATE]). DOMINION-WIDE SCHEM E WANTED. The prominence which is being given to afforestation throughout the conntry has directed attention to lie possibility of the use of the sand-drift areas around the New Zealand coasts for this purpose, thereby promoting a double object in the stabilisation of the drifting sand as well. The extent of the problem presented by these sanddrift areas may be gauged from the fact that, around the coasts, mostly on the western side of the North Island, there is a total area of over 300,C00 acres of drifting and partly fixed sand, the greater portion of which forms a definite danger from the fact that it is encroaching on interior grassed areas. Whilst a great deal of this sand country is capable of carrying a sole of grass and supporting stock, much of it along the immediate sea coast requires protection in order to prevent the disintegration of the hill system by wind, and the inward drift of .sand from the

sea. In other afiorestration and protection has been reduced to a system for more than 100 years, and the same principles are largely applicable to New Zealand. Experiments Carried Out.

Whilst this is generally recognised, there are local modifications necessi-

tated by different climatic conditions,

and for the purpose of ascertaining the cheapest and most effective means of dealing with the sand on a comprehensive basis, the .State Forestry Department in 191(5 purchased a block of 3000 acres in the Hangitikei district, where experiments have been carried out for the past several years. On this area, many hundreds of acres of previously drifting sand have now been ‘‘fixed’’ with marram grass, a foredune built up by means of brush fences, which catch the sand drifting

in from the sea, and many thousands of trees planted out on the “fixed” areas. The experience gained in this work will he invaluable when a scheme

of afforestation on a national basis is attempted. Preliminary Work.

That the work will have to be done

on such a, basis and not by private enterprise would appear to be definite

fact from the report of the Forestry Department on a scheme of local afforestation, which was submitted to them for consideration. The area involved was typical west coast sand country, partly fixed with a growth of gorse, marram, tree lupin, etc., and partly drifting sand, whiph wouid have to be “fixed” before any attempt at afforest-

ation would have a chance of success

A factor which is of importance is that, on account of the prevalence of strong westerly winds, a protective belt or trees from a quarter to half a mile in width of a variety capable of withstanding the salt-laden ocean winds, hut which would be useless for milling purposes, would have to be planted, m order to protect the main forest area, to Ire established further back. The Department’s report, inter alia, states: x

“Very little tree planting has been done in the dune complex (the immediate seashore area) anywhere along the sand belt of this region, and practically none at all on the more exposed portions of the coast. A small

plantation of pinus insignis within five chains of high-water mark at Waikanae has ' attained a height of 14 feet and a maximum diameter of 10 inches after ten years. Individual trees apparently of the same age, spot planted on the dune belt, are of much inferior development, notwithstanding that this locality benefits from the shelter afforded by Kapiti Island. Owing to their distorted and irregular form it appears probable that trees of this species grown under similar conditions would have no commercial value other than as fuel. Trees planted at llangitikei Heads, in the dune com[ilex, in 1916, exhibit similar retarded develoimient and irregularity of form. *

“On such inadequate data it is, of course, impossible to base definite eonclusioiis, but it appears ut least probable that in yield, quality, and rate of growth, plantations on the dune complex will compare very unfavourably with those established under ordinary conditions.”

Private Enterprise Not Advocated. The foregoing considerations, combined with the attached tentative estimate of planting and reclamation costs appear to indicate that afforestration on the sand belt cannot be regarded as a. very attractive commercial proposition. Commercial forestry in New Zealand is being widely developed, and the investing public are being insistently canvassed for support for afforestation projects, the least promising of which appears to offer a much better return than the scheme under discussion. And it therefore appears unlikely, if the limitations of tiie project are frankly admitted, that sufficient public support wilj be forthcoming to enable the venture to be ■successful iy launched on a commercial

basis. On the other hand, since the work of sand dune stablisation is one of national importance, and in view of our commitments, is of peculiar interest to the State Eorest Service, it appears advisable that subject to the necessary safeguards this .service should extend to the promoters whatever co-operation and assistance is jiossihle. "Dune reclamation the world over,” says Dr. Cockayne in his “Deport on the Dune Areas of New Zealand.” “has been considered the work of the State rather than the individual, and if the promoters of the scheme are successful in lifting this portion of the burden rroin the Shoulders of the State, they appear to your officers to be justly entitled to such co-operation and assistance as the Forest Service can rend-

Cost of the Work. the average cost of fixation, and planting with, trees is given in the Department’s report at £6 17s 4d per .icre, but against this is the fact that large areas—the flats and swamps whicli intersperse this country at fret] wont intervals—are capable, when properly protected by tree belts, of giving a big return from dairying or agricultural farming. Such country ;s employed extensively in Northern France for sugar beet growing, although the natural fertility of the sand is by no means so high as in New Zealand. The probable solution of the difficulty will be the co-operation of the Governments and local bodies within whose area of control drifting sand lies.