VALUE OF AFFORESTATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 27 January 1939, Page 4

VALUE OF AFFORESTATION

WHAT GERMANY AND JAPAN ARE DOING COMMUNITY FORESTS ADVOCATED As one always interested in afforestation and an advocate for community forests in Australia and New Zealand. Mr R. J. Morris, a member of the Queensland bowling party, yesterday told Nelson Rotarian* of the keen interest being taken in afforestation in Japan and Germany, two countries he had recently visited. Mr Morris said that every town in Germany had its community forest, and in some districts the asset was so valuable that the profits from the milling of the bush met half the local rates. In all countries the native bush was dwindling, and it was necessary for extensive planting to be undertaken. In Japan 62 per cent of the land was in forest or about to be planted. In the last five years Japan had averaged 300,000.000 trees planted. The Germans and Japanese recognised the value of afforestation, and he hoped that Australia and New Zealand would in the next few years show greater activity in that direction.