Appendix N.
REPORT OF THE BOTANICAL AND FORESTRY DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 1939.
INTRODUCTION.
1. The Botanical and Forestry Department was originally constituted in 1872 as the Government Gardens and Tree Planting Department. It had undergone two changes of title before assuming the present one in 1905. The results of its afforestation work are to be seen in the well-covered hills of Hong Kong Island which originally were more or less bare, and on the mainland where, in addition to its own particular plantations, it has encouraged afforestation by the country people and assisted in the general effort to suppress the denudation of unprotected areas. Afforestation on Hong Kong Island has made steady progress since its inception in 1880. From this, it will be gathered that the oldest plantations are little more than sixty years of age. On the mainland, the first afforestation operations undertaken were in the Kowloon reservoir area in 1902. Exploitation of the forest areas thus produced is not contemplated, as their function is concerned rather with water conservation and erosion problems. Production of timber for revenue purposes is likely to remain subsidiary to these aims, save in so far as forestry practices require the removal of a certain amount of timber for forest sanitation purposes, thinnings, etc. The area under forests is being extended each year with a corresponding increase in departmental responsibilities. Of recent years, development has been extended to other aspects of forestry work, and the department is now concerned with problems such as the creation of forest reserves, experimental work, the utilisation of leased lots to better advantage, etc.
2. Activities in the other sections of the department have increased considerably in the past few years, and this report will give some idea of the ground covered. The department plays an important part in local affairs, and expansion in its activities has resulted in changes in organisation and increases in expenditure which were essential if it was to function efficiently. In the future, it is likely to play a larger part in local forestry and agricultural affairs than has been the case in the past.
GENERAL REVIEW OF THE YEAR.
3. The year was characterised by considerable activity, particularly in the realms of forestry and agriculture. The former is a natural development of established activities, but the latter is of very recent origin and will be found to figure far more largely in this annual report than is usually the case. The main features of the year's progress, together with associated matters, are mentioned below.
4. Forestry—On the forestry side, the relation of firewood prices to the forest areas presented a problem of some magnitude, necessitating a large increase in the protection staff. The fact that the staff employed on this work outnumbered the staff employed on normal routine and field work throughout the year is a striking commentary on the abnormal conditions prevailing. The Sino-Japanese hostilities, in particular the South China part of it, seriously affected firewood supplies, with a resultant increase in prices, but this state of affairs was offset to some extent by increased imports from Borneo and Singapore. The outbreak of the European war aggravated the matter still further, resulting in the curtailment of the overseas supplies for shipping reasons. This produced a sudden rise in prices from September onwards. Split pine, which at that time was $1.66 per picul, by the end of the year had risen to $2.94 per picul. When compared with the normal price, i.e., 50 cents per picul, it will be realised that local forest areas were in
Appendix N.
REPORT OF THE BOTANICAL AND FORESTRY
DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR 1939.
INTRODUCTION.
1. The Botanical and Forestry Department was originally constituted in 1872 as the Government Gardens and Tree Planting Department. It had undergone two changes of title before assuming the present one in 1905. The results of its afforestation work are to be seen in the well covered hills of Hong Kong Island which originally were more or less bare, and on the mainland where, in addition to its own particular plantations, it has encouraged afforestation by the country people and assisted in the general effort to suppress the denudation of unprotected areas. Afforestation on Hong Kong Island has made steady progress since its inception in 1880. From this it will be gathered that the oldest plantations are little more than sixty years of age. On the mainland, the first afforestation operations undertaken were in the Kowloon reservoir area in 1902. Exploitation of the forest areas thus produced is not contemplated, as their function is concerned rather with water conservation and erosion problems. Production of timber for revenue purposes is likely to remain subsidiary to these aims, save in so far as forestry practices require the removal of a certain amount of timber for forest sanitation purposes, thinnings, etc. The area under forests is being extended each year with a corresponding increase in departmental responsibilities. Of recent years, development has been extended to other aspects of forestry work and the department is now concerned with problems such as the creation of forest reserves, experimental work, the utilisation of leased lots to better advantage, etc.
2. Activities in the other sections of the department have increased considerably in the past few years and this report will give some idea of the ground covered. The department plays an important part in local affairs and expansion in its activities has resulted in changes in organisation and increases in expenditure which were essential if it was to function efficiently. In the future it is likely to play a larger part in local forestry and agricultural affairs than has been the case in the past,
GENERAL REVIEW OF THE YEAR.
3. The year was characterised by considerable activity particularly in the realms of forestry and agriculture. The former is a natural development of established activities but the latter is of very recent origin and will be found to figure far more largely in this annual report than is usually the case. The main features of the year's progress together with associated matters are mentioned below.
4. Forestry-On the forestry side the relation of firewood prices to the forest areas presented a problem of some magnitude necessitating a large increase in the protection staff. The fact that the staff employed on this work outnumbered the staff employed on normal routine and field work throughout the year is a striking commentary on the abnormal conditions prevailing. The Sino-Japanese hostilities, in particular the South China part of it, seriously affected firewood supplies with a resultant increase in prices but this state of affairs was offset to some extent by increased imports from Borneo and Singapore. The outbreak of the European war aggravated the matter still further resulting in the curtailment of the overseas supplies for shipping reasons. This produced a sudden rise in prices from September onwards. Split pine, which at that time was $1.66 per picul, by the end of the year had risen to $2.94 per picul. When compared with the normal price i.e. 50 cents per picul, it will be realised that local forest areas were in
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