22
and other purposes. Partly owing to the increased price of imported firewood there has recently been considerable commercialization of these amenities, the local timber being brought into the towns and villages and sold profitably.
During 1938 forestry offences were numerous and considerable difficulty was experienced in the protection of forest areas particularly in the thickly populated parts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The large increase in offences of this nature was chiefly due to the Sino-Japanese hostilities which severely curtailed imports of firewood from South China and brought into the Colony large numbers of refugees.
The native afforestation scheme mentioned above consists of letting sections of open hillside land to a village or villagers at a nominal annual rental of 20 cents per acre. When the trees are considered large enough the licensees are permitted to remove 10% of them annually conditionally upon their planting an equivalent number of trees. The species used for this purpose is Pinus Massoniana Lamb., which provides excellent fuel. The Leased Forest Lot Scheme is administered by the District Officers. Wild trees may not be felled at any time except under special circumstances when permission must be obtained from the Superintendent, Botanical and Forestry Department.
A general survey of forestry activities was made, and a Forest Experimental Station established during 1938. The Forest Protection Service was separated from the Field Service and was domiciled on definite areas.
Estimated Areas Under Forest.
(a) Crown Land.
Hong Kong Island—about 18 square miles. New Territories—about 4 square miles.
(b) Native Holdings (Leased Forest Lots).
Hong Kong Island—nil.
New Territories—approximately 81 square miles.
Timber Production.
(a) Crown Land.
As stated above output consists chiefly of the removal of dead and damaged timber. During 1938 removals of this nature totalled 2027.59 tons, valued at $35,000 at current prices (i.e., average of prices for the year). The average dimensions of trees of 8-10 years of age in Crown plantations are height 21 feet, diameter 4 inches (breast-high).
(b) Native Holdings (Leased Forest Lots).
Under the conditions of the forestry licence the licensee may remove 10% of the timber per annum. It is customary to remove side branches (brushwood) at definite seasons of the year and these are utilised for brick kilns, etc. This results in the production of stunted trees which are considered sufficiently large for disposal as firewood when they have attained a height of 12 feet and a diameter of 2 inches to 4 inches (breast high). The age of trees of these dimensions is from 8 to 14 years. From inspections and check it is estimated that the annual output of timber and brushwood is approximately 11 piculs (12.16 cwts.) per acre. At the 10% removal rate this represents an output of 3408.2 tons for the whole area under "leased forest lots." For the year 1938 this was valued at $17,177.
Proportion of Land Under Forests.
Area of Colony 390 square miles. Crown Forests 22 Leased Forest Lots 81 Percentage of Crown Forests 5.64% Leased Lots 20.85% Total percentage 26.49%22
and other purposes. Partly owing to the increased price of imported firewood there has recently been considerable commercialization of these amenities, the local timber being brought into the towns and villages and sold profitably.
During 1938 forestry offences were numerous and considerable difficulty was experienced in the protection of forest areas particularly in the thickly populated parts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The large increase in offences of this nature was chiefly due to the Sino-Japanese hostilities which severely curtailed imports of firewood from South China and brought into the Colony large numbers of refugees
The native afforestation scheme mentioned above consists of letting sections of open hillside land to a village or villagers at a nominal annual rental of 20 cents per acre. When the trees are considered large enough the licensees are permitted to remove 10% of them annually conditionally upon their planting an equivalent number of trees. The species used for this purpose is Pinus Massoniana Lamb., which provides excellent fuel. The Leased Forest Lot Scheme is administered by the District Officers. Wild trees may not be felled at any time except under special circumstances when permission must be obtained from the Superintendent, Botanical and Forestry Department.
A general survey of forestry activites was made, and a Forest Experimental Station established during 1938. The Forest Protection Service was separated from the Field Service and was domiciled on definite areas.
Estimated Areas Under Forest.
(a) Crown Land.
Hong Kong Island-about 18 square miles. New Territories-about 4 square miles.
(b) Native Holdings (Leased Forest Lots).
Hong Kong Island-nil.
New Territories-approximately 81 square miles.
Timber Production.
(a) Crown Land.
As stated above output consists chiefly of the removal of dead and damaged timber. During 1938 removals of this nature totalled 2027.59 tons, valued at $35,000 at current prices (i.e. average of prices for the year). The average dimensions of trees of 8-10 years of age in Crown plantations are height 21 feet, diameter 4 inches (breast-high). (b) Native Holdings (Leased Forest Lots).
Under the conditions of the forestry licence the licensee may remove 10% of the timber per annum. It is customary to remove side bran- ches (brushwood) at definite seasons of the year and these are utilised for brick kilns, etc. This results in the production of stunted trees which are considered sufficiently large for disposal as firewood when they have attained a height of 12 feet and a diameter of 2 inches to 4 inches (breast high). The age of trees of these dimensions is from 8 to 14 years. From inspections and check it is estimated that the annual output of timber and brushwood is approximately 11 piculs (12.16 cwts.) per acre. At the 10% removal rate this represents an output of 3408.2 tons for the whole area under "leased forest lots." For the year 1938 this was valued at $17,177.
Proportion of Land Under Forests.
Area of Colony
JJ
390 square miles.
Crown Forests
22
""
Leased Forest Lots
81
>>
Percentage of Crown Forests
5.64%
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Leased Lots
-20.85%
Total percentage
-26.49%
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