ENG-1952 — Page 102

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1952

Afforestation for the protection of water supplies may be seen in the Kowloon Reservoir area where severe erosion took place after the destruction of trees during the Japanese occupation. Extensive sowing of pine and the planting of eucalyptus have been carried out since the re-occupation and, at present, nearly the whole of the catchment area has been afforested.

In some parts of the Tai Lam valley, which is to be developed by Government as a catchment area for a new reservoir, there has been severe erosion but in other parts there is a considerable amount of wild tree growth and large numbers of pine trees have been planted by the villagers. The Forestry Division has established an outpost in this area to protect the natural growth, and the villagers are to be compensated for their pine plantations which are to be taken over by Government as a nucleus for afforestation. In addition, pine seed has been distributed over all badly eroded areas and towards the end of the year a nursery was started and plans were drawn up for extensive affores- tation work in 1953.

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Another important area is the catchment around the Jubilee Reservoir at Shing Mun. This area is not at present affected by erosion to any extent but afforestation is being carried out. The catchment area above Tsun Wan has also been planted.

Afforestation may only be successfully carried out where vegetation is carefully protected from fires and from illegal woodcutters. Protection against illegal cutting is a difficult problem in Hong Kong because of the great demand for fuel and the high price of firewood. Forest Guards are stationed throughout the Island and the New Territories to patrol the hillsides and to prevent illegal woodcutting. It is almost impossible

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