The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-07-27
Report of Special Committee ON
Preservation of Forests.

I
sderaiOn the protection Of forests in this Kingdom
would report follows
The value Of the forests Of country is not limited
to the matter Of supplying timber and hrewOOd.
although these are in themselves very important items
in the resources Of any State Kingdom. As a
matter Of observation and experience as well as Of
theory, it has been found tina; the relative extent
Of forest land in any Of country very materially
affects the supply Of rain, and matter of course
tie supply Of running water.
The lAster.-tbSt is, the supply of running water,
will be very obviously affected in this manner viz
where there are heavy woods. the that falls in
/ rain Storm or in showers. is held in the bed Of
leaves that the ground and KEEP, by the shade
Of the trees from evaporation. drains slowly into
ursl water courses, supplying both springs and
streams. The same amount Of water falling on open
country either Immediately h0ws away, as in the
torrents that rush down the leeWAri shores Of Ha-
vail in southeriy storms. is dried up by the
Bat more than this. the actual amount Of rain fall
ing is increased by Of forest. wooded sum
nit viii attrae; clouds and showers, while barren
summit of the same elevation will attract none. 1t
I is 4 weIl-known phenomena the prAiries Of the
Western United States that showers will follow along
the narrow belts Of timber land that skirt the streams
This may be ~ electrical phenomenon, it may
be because more moisture Is always evapOrstng from
such belts Of forest. In country Of large extent,
the latter is probably one principal element of
influence.
As a historical fact it Is known that many olien
countries have suffered very much by the destruction
Of forests Greece and Palestine marked in
stances any. In a number OF civilized countries
- =
ing these rain producers
The forests Of these Islands have been very greatly
diminished during the past twenty years. Nuuanu
yalles furnishes an example very near at hand, as
well demanding immediate consideration.
Kalihi Valley. another The northern slope Mauna
KaAA on this Island another. On Kauai old forests
are now nothing but dead and deeaying trees. On
East Maui there have been very extensive eiearngs,
While on Hawaii, especially in Hamakua and Kohala,
thousands upon thousands Of acres, once heavily
timbered. are open country, in many cases only
covered With worthless o-i. good deal of forest
has been taken for 6rewOOd, while the young tim
Der has been prevented from growing up again BY the
pasturage Of cattle. In other trees have been
destroyed BY taking the bark for tanning purposes
But Independently Of both these, the greater de-
struetiou has been By cattle. They tear away the
undergr0Eth, and is characteristics Of Wild forest
trees when these are left stand alone in the open
country they soon perish. Ths amount Of damage
thus done b. cattle Is immense. These dead trees
not utilized for hreEood, but while living
trees are being Unfortunately cut down il other
localities the trunks Of thousands Of these giants
Of Hawaiian forests-sometimes 1, and feet in /
diameter, the trees having been from 60 100 feet
feet in height, lie decsyiug the ground. This .
Is an utter vastefunsss that ought By no means .
to Be permitted in this seantiy resoureed country
The supply Of water has also very much diminished
in late years. There are few persons familiar with .
the country bat Ebo can call to mind old water
eoar.ss. where By 10 possible means could be
made to ruu at the present. tine also former STRAINS
~here bridges we're once necessary, now almost
aIEays dry The cessation Of the usual southsriy
and westerly rains for years past, may be only
temporary feature Of seasons but Independently
Of this II Is vel known that the rain fall on the
Islands i much smaller than It in former years.
II certain Localities travellers almost
to meet showers Of rain, where nov they need be
under 10 apprehension Of any thing Of the This
L serious state Of Affairs, ani If the changes
going On. are suffered continue there may vel Be
fears lest these islands, Of which some Parts
80 fair and fertile, may Jet become almost unin-
Eabitabls.
T. prevent this, the most strenuous measures may
yet BE usesssary- legislative action Of kind
nay BE necessary, If land do not realize the
tia, upon them in matters Of this
sort. aud f they DO accordingly. 1t viii be
sheer natter Of ssifpreserTAtion, to
compel the removal q cattle from many wooded 10
eAIites prohibit the eating Of frsEood, except
under certain prescribed conditions; possibly, to
rake legislative appropriations oai Of already
saPtsd fi1igng fran the Appropriation Bill Of this
ysar,l Trsaz1ry-
It -as tao late il the present session when this
natter Eas br0ught up, to prepare any legislative
measures to Be acted upon at present Any laws on
,ais sssjset apparently nsariy trsnehing pr
rghts, -ozId have to Be very carefully drawn up.
AID probably Eoald Lad to mach debate. The pablie.
to- Is hardly Jet vel easszh informed to be prepared
i1r tezislssi0a CT this subject
ssEsraI kinis of zsassrss ear BE proposed:
Oas, to bring the esstrsI q al wooded nsgntain
,annits iHto TIE hands Of tie Govsrn@eat, The.e
Ire .>Idoa Of iry great value the e@nsrs bat to
he Pgblie for the ParPose q rsiaprsdsesrs are in
zstizahls- Hsaoi-la E0sld BE sninhsbiiabls, and
all gardens iupossible. bat Tor the sosdsd ksgEis
y ne fali- Al b<Gs - IKE 1rzEE tlE11gl TIE
.zz@it q the Feak called Tani4as sbsEId he care
ALLY preserved az fsr-s,- The aPFeE par q Ssaans
Valley sholi BE za@s more f5rssf. and il KAY
ss nseessary "a compel owners 70 part Hiih their
-ztss. far valuation, fsr the .aks Of protee,ing
tie pzblie-
sseoad- Oszeers should be appointed. and empsw-
srsi take q fsrssts the ssfying dis;rets
b be kasrH Forest Cszzissiozerz.
Third II Ea1y e.sss. laId-oEnsrs sb0sld be con-
rse5 "a Prstset certain ProPoTtioa q their forest
ards frs= cattle, .itssr b. fersing Otherwise.
Is-y ssould asa te ia1sees eEsspzstsrs. The
IiAass already 0Vs,PAstsrss. tia; fat cattle
IRE sezrss-
FsaTth- The estting Of krsrsod shoald have GER
AN eszdEtio.s izPsssd- Il Il probable that the
requisite zaS1Et q krsEood for 1zr BhoIs pspslz-
oz eazid b< Obtained EitA,zt PerzsssafIy dizinilk
~ TIE azeant q fsTsst. 4 the basinss. we're oaly
P-sFe-iy CARED e. Tss area from Eheh tizber is
~, shssd b< projected fs@ e.EfIs. that tie yssng
rses KAY grs.5 asd yang. Tigoroas trees should
: ext &owE IN s1y Il l. nsessEsry to pro
.isit the sztsing Ct frsEosd; sziy regulate H.