REAFFORESTATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23287, 24 August 1945, Page 4

REAFFORESTATION

Pressing Problem In Dominion Survey Of German Methods Evils Of Denudation Reafforestation was a pressing' problem in New Zealand and one that would have to be tackled in the near future. During lhe last 100 years forests had been denuded to the detriment of the country, said Major N. A. Rattray, who. in an address to the South Canterbury Regional Council yesterday, explained afforestation in Germany which he had studied when a prisoner of war. “I do not pretend in any way to be an expert on afforestation,” said the speaker. “During my forced stay in Germany I had a unique opportunity of studying the subject in which I had always been interested, as for 15 months I was allowed to go to the forests and for the last few weeks I was there I was allowed to study in a State Forest school. The areas of forest in Germany are tremendous and wonderfully well managed and are not in any way denuded as they were in parts of England and Scotland after the last war. In Germany afforestation is worked out on an 80 year cycle and is never altered. The forests are controlled by the German State Forestry Department. Forests near towns are owned by the Commune which is equivalent to a local body in New Zealand. From the revenue of the forests the small towns lived practically rate free, and this revenue provides most of the amenities of town life.”

Afforestation, continued the speaker, was grouped under two headings—silvicultural and aboricultural. Silviculture was the management of the larger areas of trees from an economic point of view which could be controlled by the State Forest Service or local bodies. In New Zealand they neglected reafforestation and it was difficult to get local bodies to take an interest in it. What was required in New Zealand was to teach the aesthetic aspect of trees which was aboriculture. Function of Trees “There are vast areas in South Canterbury where trees are needed for an economic advantage. We suffer a great deal in the downs of South Canterbury through lack of water. Streams dry up owing to the felling of trees at the headwaters. Where there were large areas of gorse, broom and blackberries, trees could be planted. Trees planted under proper conditions would check the rapid growth of these weeds. Recent floods were largely attributable to the felling of forest during the white man’s occupation of New Zealand during the last 100 years. We have cut out too many trees and not replaced them. Nature grows trees where they should be, but we have planted trees where they cannot perform their proper function.

“The pinus insignis, a much condemned tree, and thought by many to be useless, is useless only because it is not properly controlled. Where it is planted under proper conditions, such as it is in Germany, it becomes a valuable timber, and will measure up to imported Western American redwood and other timbers provided it is properly planted and controlled. • If pinus insignis is grown 18 to 20 rings to the inch it is good timber. The Germans planted their trees about sft. apart and left them untouched from about 15 to 20 years. In 60 years’ time matured trees were removed and at 80 years the remainder were felled. Besides using the timber for construction purposes, etc., practically all Germany’s clothing since 1936 had been made from pulped wood. Not more than 25 per cent of wool had been used in any synthetic product. Soft woods were used for synthetic wools and hard woods for synthetic cottons. Germany, which was the greatest authority in the world on timber, said that it was a wrong practice to plant pure strands of any timber. Long-term Plan “In New Zealand we have a unique opportunity of adopting many sound long-term plans of afforestation,” continued Major Rattray. “In England after the denudation of forests during the first world war, landowners who were unable to bear the cost of reafforestation received financial assistance from the Government. The natural forest areas of New Zealand are being rapidly diminished. On the West Coast of the South Island the rimu forests will not outlast in milling capacity the lives of many around this table. We have neglected the reafforestation of all forest areas. We have felled our trees but have not replaced xthem. It is one of the first problems we have to face. In Central Europe the forests are the greatest natural asset.” Concluding, the speaker said that although he detested the German form of government he had to admit that the Germans were a thorough people who realised the tremendous asset they had in their forests. In New Zealand they had to plan for their children’s children and adopt a long-term plan of reafforestation as well as afforestation A survey should be made of the suitable South Canterbury areas and the Government should be asked for assistance. On the motion of Mr A. W. Barnett it was agreed to direct the attention' of the Government to the value of the address given by Major Rattray and suggest that his address should be issued in pamphlet form. It was agreed to ask the State Forestry Department to make a survey of South Canterbury with a view to planting trees for the purpose of water conservation and the suppression of noxious weeds, together with the complete usage of all space capable of tree growth, and that farmers be encouraged to plant trees in suitable areas bv the granting of facilities in the way of fencing, labour and educational 'propaganda.

Another motion passed was that the Government be asked for a £ for £ subsidy for local bodies, organisations and farmers planting suitable trees in approved areas.