The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-09-28
FOREST PRESERVATION.

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The subject of the conservation of
forests and of the vegetable mould
which clothes the mountain sides and
is the product of centuries, is one of
the most important that people situated
I'm the tropics can give their attention
to. 1t is so easy to destroy and so hard
to build up. The articles upon the SUBJ
ject which have recently appeared in
The Star are undoubtedly having a good
effect In consequence of them an en-
tirely new plan with regard to forest
conservation has been commenced up
on one large estate, and others will fol-
low. The upbuilding process is a slow
one. but properly carried out it is sure.
Taken generally, and with out special
reference to these islands, the fact that
a country which has no forests
and has only a slight ephemeral
vegetation, is bound to have peri
DDS of droughts. Wallace, one of
the greatest authorities upon tro-
pical countries and one of the keerest
and most thorough observers points out
that the absence of forests is the cause
of the famines in India. 1t is not that
the great peninsula has no rain, but 1t
is that there is not sufficient forest
growth to retain the rain. Generations
of worthless millions have denuded In
aia of it's primeval forest.
In tropical countries and even in
warm temperate countries the rains are
periodical, and often of excessive v!o-
hence. When the forests are cleared off
the torrents of rain soon strip off the
vegetable soil and thus destroy in a few
years the fertility which has been the
growth of many centuries. The bare
subsoil becoming heated by the sun,
every particle of moisture which does
not flow off is evaporated and this again
reacts on the climate, producing long
continued droughts only relieved by
sudden and violent storms, which mere
1y add to the destruction. This is Wal
laces picture of what occurs.
The comment of this author after
having laid down his premise in the
terms condensed above. should come
home to every one interested in the flu
ture of these islands. He says
knowingly to produce such disas-
trous results would be a far more Sc
rious offence than any destruction of
property which human labor has pro-
duced and can replace; yet we have
ignorantly allowed such extensive clear
Ing as to cause the destruction of much
fertile soil, which human labor cannot
replace, and which will surely, if not
checked in time, lead to the destruction
of the climate and the permanent i'm
provement of the country" where such
a course is persisted in.
Wallaces Views are correct and are
borne out by facts which are before our
own eyes if we will only use them. In
calling attention to this subject the
writer knows whereof he speaks. 1t is
the actual observation of years not only
on this island but throughout the
group. Taking however only this ISL
and there are considerable areas which
have under gone the change that Wal
lace points out. large portion of the
Waianae mountains has been turned
into arid, baked desert by this means
First the forest has gone, then the soil
has gone, and now there is nothing left
but the bare, unclad skeleton of the
hill side,
II is &c the interest of every person
engaged in agricultural enterprise to
try and stay the forest destruction. 1t
ts to their interest not only to stay des-
truction but TO help in recuperatiOn.
What can be done towards reforestlne
can be seen on the slopes above Makiki.
These are now tree clad, and the soil
is saturated with moisture, While all
kinds of vegetable finds a home under
the grateful shade OF the little forest.
When the rains come they do not wash
off the soil, but they stay with the soil
and render it fertile. What has been
done at Mal1id can be done else where.
Indeed in many places it only requires
the land to be left alone, and 1t will re-
cuperate itself. The conservation of
our forests may require legislative ac-
ton, but the mere idea of self perserva-
ton ought to make our large land hold
ers protect their forests, without such
action. Science and common sense are
united upon this point.
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