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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
buummin C.O.882/12
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of the State Forests, the Mountain Reserves, and the River Reserves. Lest any should doubt the advisability or value of attempting such a considerable enterprise," the Conservator continues, "it will be well to look at the probable financial returns. In the year 1980 we may envisage 40,000 acres of timber forests, of which 8,000 acres will be 41-50 years old, and the remainder from 0-40 years. The procedure in 1980 and each subsequent year will be to cut 800 acres, which will be immediately replanted. The volume of the timber pro- duced on this selected timber area should easily average 4,000 cubic feet per acre, if the plantations are properly formed and tended. Many of the Chinese Pine, 45-50 years of age, now being felled have a volume of 50 cubic feet. To obtain a volume of 4,000 cubic feet per arpent, it would be necessary to produce trees averaging 40 cubic feet in volume and stand- ing 100 to the arpent, i.e., 20 feet by 20 feet apart; or 32 cubic feet and standing 125 per arpent. This in my opinion is quite possible. Thus, from 800 arpents 3,200,000 cubic feet could be cut annually. This would represent a large revenue. At present we are selling White Pine in the log at Rs.1.25 per cubic foot and sawn hardwood timber at Rs.2.50 or Rs.3.00 per cubic foot. Fortunately for Mauritius, many valuable species thrive here and, making allowances for the vagaries of timber prices, we may count on an average selling price of Rs.1.00 per cubic foot. Thus if the planting programme is carried forward without interruption, and in the absence of major catastrophes, the gross revenue of the Department should rise to Rs.3,200,000 in 1980. I have ignored the value of thinnings but, as a round figure, Rs.3,000,000 may be taken as not only possible but probable in the circumstances I have outlined. Two criticisms are to be expected. The first is a query as to the safety of the water-supply, soil, and climate if the forests are worked on a commercial basis. None of these factors are at all endangered; in fact, under the conditions I propose, the Forest can exert its beneficial influence to the full. The second objection is that the local market could not absorb three million cubic feet of timber annually. That is probably true, but it should be noted that the valuable exotics which thrive here include several furni- ture woods, and Pitch Pine. The world demand for these timbers exceeds the supply, the growing shortage of conifer timber being the subject of a recent resolution in the British Parliament, and I am confident that there will be no diffi- culty about exporting our surplus production. There already exists in the State Forests a considerable volume of mature timber, chiefly Mahogany, Eucalyptus, White Pine, and in- digenous timber, while extensive areas of plantation and
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(It is re-
natural forest will come to maturity before 1980. grettable that so far no figures exist to show either areas of plantations or volumes of timber.) The plantations which should be made in the next few years will also yield con- siderable volumes of poles and timber from thinnings, so that the total productions of the Forest produce will be sufficient to bring in a greatly increased Forest revenue, which as I have estimated, should rise to at least Rs.3,000,000 in 1980." 4. This is the complete statement of the scheme. The figures as to possible future revenue are admittedly little more than an intelligent surmise and there are no data for determining the probable expenditure and no estimates even for the works for which a grant is required. We cannot see in this statement any justification of a grant from the Colonial development fund. We might add that so far as we have discussed the forests with our non-official witnesses we have found nothing to indicate that there is any strong local opinion in favour of the scheme.
Some of its practical weaknesses have already been indicated in the notes of the experts to whom this scheme was referred in England. Dr. Pearson has observed that there is no sufficiently detailed information as to the existing forest crop; this is a defect which cannot easily be remedied, seeing that we have been informed by the Conservator that there has not only been no attempt at enumeration, but that older plantations have actually been lost. Dr. Troup has mentioned the risks to plantations, a point which has been emphasized by the recent hurricane which has been more severe in its effects on the imported trees, eucalyptus and pine; moreover we cannot but notice that as long as the bulk of the forest lands continue to be leased, at the very low average cost of fifty cents an acre, for shooting and fishing rights, and as long as public opinion in the Colony attaches more importance to those rights than to forest development, systematic plantation will certainly be impeded and much of the work will actually be de- stroyed. The clearings where the new plantations are made are naturally a favourite resort of the deer. Mr. Simmons has examined the financial side of the scheme and has declared that owing to the lack of data it is impossible to predict whether the plantation will in fact result in financial success; on the anticipated revenue the scheme cannot be financially sound unless the total capital cost is less than two and a half million pounds, and he has indicated how, under a proper system of costing, oven the small initial ex- penditure now contemplated will amount to a capital charge absorb- ing one seventh of the maximum charge which should be incurred.
5. This financial criticism is of major importance. Quite apart from the fact that the Colony has no present resources for loans or for new expenditure from revenue, it would be our duty in any case to recommend that no expenditure on this scheme should be
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