The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-04-08
HAWAIIAN
FORESTRY
Views OF Griffiths,
Government
Expert.

The report made by E. NJ. Grifhths,
the Government forestry expert who
made an examination of Hawaii's for
ests, deals very largely with the result
of his trip as published in The Adver-
tiser just after his return. The views
of Mr. Griffiths upon the best plans for
forest protection are of interest. In
this connection he says:
Forest protection means not only in
creasing the rainfall but more import
ant still conserving the water supply.
Upon the right solution of this problem
depends to a very large extent the flu
ture welfare and agricultural prosper
ity of the Hawaiian Islands. Sugar,
the backbone of the Islands. comprising
over so per cent of the exports, is abso-
lutely dependent upon plentiful and
constant supply of water. The planter
who does not depend upon the natural
rainfall but irrigates his cane is apt to
think that forest protection does not
directly affect his business; but in
reality he should be far more solicitous
about the preservation of the forest
than the planter who depends on the
rainfall, for whether he is taking his
water from a stream or an artesian
Wen MS supply VIII De very quiChty
fected by any disturbance of the forest
cover along the important watersheds.
Particularly is this the case where wa
ter is being taken from a stream whose
headwaters lie within the forest belt.
which is the case with most of the
streams on the Islands.
'-Fluming cane is by far the cheapest
means of transportation, for this rea-
son to many plantations it is OF vital
necessity that their supply of water be
at least held constant and increased If
possible. The stockman or farmer and
those engaged in growing rice or taro
are also dependent, though not to the
same extent as the sugar cane planter
upon a water supply which shall be
fairly constant through all seasons of
the year.
LAS previously stated, the denudation
OF the Hawaiian forests has been
brought about to a very large extent
by the practice of pasturing stock in
the forests. Certainly this has been
admitted by those who have studied
the question and it is believed that
fencing and the absolute exclusion of
all stock is the only sure remedy. There
is no necessity for abandoning the cat
tie business in order TO protect the for
ests. but the cattle must be confined to |
the lower slopes.
1T is especially important that fences
should be built along the upper limits |
of the forest in order to prevent the |
wild cattle, sheep and goats which at
present are ranging on the higher grass
slopes from working down into the for
eStS.
Whenever fences have already been
built the reclamation of the forests is
as surprisingly rapid as their destruc-
ton when stock are allowed to range
freely. AS previously stated the first
effort should be to fence and protect
those forests along the headwaters of
all the important streams.
In order to place the work upon a
thoroughly efficient basis it will be nee
essary for the government, planters,
rancherS and all others owning or leas
ng land upon which water is the chief
to cooperate and see to
Z that the forests are thoroughly pro-
.ected.''