The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-10-17
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PLANTERS AND FORESTRY. F.:

The Planters Association will hold it's
annual autumn meeting beginning next
Monday. One of the subjects which
will come up for discussion is that of
forestry. The Association in the past
has given much consideration to this
subject. In view of the drought of the
past year the following report by David
Forbes of Kukuihaele considered an
expert forester made to w. M.
GlHard, chairman of the Committee on
Forestry of the Association in 1897. is
specially timely. Mr.. Forbes says
1t seems proven that the preservation
OF an appropriate percentage of the
area of these Islands, as forests. can
not be left entirely to private enter
prise, in which case it becomes a duty
Oh the state to interfere. The ever in
creasing flow of people into these ISL
andS as settlers in search of land for
agricultural purposes, and how an
existence can be maintained on the
lands acquired with climate and mois-
ture suitable for their industries) are
deserving of serious consideration
Not alone to sugar-cane growers, the
enterprising coffee planter, and even
the rancher to a certain extent, but to
all engaged in any cultivation where
products of the soil are his means of
support, does the maintenance of for
est in a certain proportion mean a mat
lcI VI llle greatest lInpOTIdHCe.
In the district of Hilo, but more
particularly that of Hamakua and
Kohala, for many years the upper
land forests have suffered from the in
roads of cattle, with results which are
now visible togeven the most casual OBJ
server. Young seedlings and coppice
Cor supplemental fores) are entirely
destroyed, leaving but the decaying
tree-butts, to mark where healthy for
est grew. While in place of the little
trickling brook we find but an empty
channel ornamented with the bleached
skeletons of cattle, who had wandered
there to relieve their thirst, but only
found disappointment and death. Al
Kukuihaele for the past twelve years
at two elevations correct record of the
rainfall has been preserved. The past
year shows but a total of "a l5-lOO
inches at $50 feet elevation, while in
former years a rainfall of from 81 TO
100 inches was not considered unusual.
Periodical droughts may happen here
as elsewhere. but apart from this, the
opinion of several men who have lived
for sixty years in these districts. as
well as the careful observations of DR..
Guppy, a student of nature. who a few
months ago spent some time on the
submits of our Island mountains, go
to show that the rainfall and means of
the same is much less than
of Island industries and prosperity of
the country at heart, is it not then time
to consider what course should be pur-
sued to benefit the community; apart
from interests of the individual? Where
as in the present case forests are neces-
sary to produce climatic and mechani-
cal effects, a wise administration will
assure the maintenance and protection
of an adequate proportion of the coun-
try under such
In applying the foregoing conclusions
to these Islands, / do not, however,
overlook the facts, and arguments of
many, that through the insular position
and exposure to the moist air currents
which come direct from the sea, this
group is not entirely governed in it's
by the area of forest on its
mountain slopes. 1t is beyond dispute,
however, that forest is invaluable in
the position it bears on the retention
of moisture preservation and regula-
tion of the water supply in springs and
rivers, ensuring an even flow and pre-
venting floods or where the water is in
demand for irrigation, etc, to reduce
evaporation on the catchment areas.
Most of us are aware that where forest
has become denuded on the mountain
slopes, the varieties OF vegetation which
are not of nature to help and
prepare the soil to retain water for any
length of time.
The consequences are, that so soon
as a heavy rain falls, it simply runs
over the surface to channels on lower
ground in which its way is rapidly
found to the ocean.