SAVING SOIL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4122, 6 April 1949, Page 11

SAVING SOIL

EROSION OF HILLS FORESTRY PROBLEMS HAURAKICATCHMENT BOARD Advantage was taken of a recent visit of Mr T. S. Thompson, a forest conservation officer, to discuss with him forestry problems facing ’ the catchment board, stated the chief engineer, Mr G. Davies, in his report to the March meeting of the Hauraki Catchment Board. With Mr Thompson an inspection was made of some of the areas concerned. “ He has promised to give a full report to the board on his visit,” Mr Davies continued. “ Until the report is received it might be mentioned that the main conclusions in brief were as follows: — “ I—Gullies where erosion threatens should ibe ‘ plugged ’ with suitable trees planted from the stream bed up both banks for about two chains. « 2—Fire should be kept out of the areas concerned at all costs. “ 3—Pests should be eradicated or kept to small numbers. “ The suggestion of tree planting on steep slopes to prevent erosion was not generally approved. He contended that eroding material should be trapped in the gullies and the hillsides should he left to go back to the bush growth of its own accord. “ The heavy landslides that occur on steep slopes can only be controlled by planting the gullies. They cannot be held up indefinitely for in ‘ geological ’ time the hills will find a stable slope, but the land which slips can be stopped in the gullies well back from the rivers.”