MOUNTAIN FORESTS

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1232, 29 May 1947, Page 4

MOUNTAIN FORESTS

TREES AT HIGH ALTITUDES Possibility Of Establishment -The -possibility of establishing high altitude forests in New Zealand was commented- on by Mr. H. A. Fullair’ton, a senior engineer of the Public Works Department, in a recent address to the technology section of the Wellington branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Mr. Fullarton has recently returned to New Zealand after having served for three years as -technical supervisor to the New Zealand Supply Mission in Washington. New Zealand- forest growth usually petered out at about 4000 feet, said Mr. Fullart-o-n. I-t came as a surprise, therefore, to find that healthy forest growth persisted in many parts of the United States, even in rocky territory, up to elevations in excess of 10,000 feet. He suggested that it might be possible to establish, -by experiment, exotic birches, spruces and qther high altitude trees in New Zealand up to elevations of 5000 or 6000 feet. If this was possible, three worthwhile objectives would- be reached 1 — the reduction in soil erosion, selective milling in accessible areas, and great improvement of the scenic aspects of many of the -national parks.