291 



Proclamation of Forest Reserves. 



The value of the native forest for the conservation of water 

 was early realized by some prudent land owners who wisely at- 

 tempted to protect them from damage by man and the inroads of 

 stock by constructing suitable fences and preventing trespass. 

 Those who did this are now reaping the benefits of possessing 

 forests which are in splendid shape. 



While tree planting was undertaken by the government of 

 these islands as far back as lcS82, it was not until 1903 that the 

 first legislation was passed which provided for a Board of Agri- 

 culture and Forestry consisting of five commissioners ard 

 authorized them to recommeiid the creation of forest reserves 

 to be set aside by i-roclamation of the Governor. Since this time 

 the government has taken the lead in forest matters. Naturally, 

 the first work was to examine and describe the lands to be set 

 aside, a most arduou.s task, and the proclamation of the general 

 forest reserve system begun on November 10, 1904, when the 

 first reserve was set aside, was completed in December, 1918. 

 This demarcation of forest lands was a huge job, for it was scat- 

 tered over the five main islands and involved a large amount of 

 examination on the ground and definite surveys of boundaries. 



In describing such reserves, it has been the policy from the 

 start not to include, if possible, lands which are more valuable 

 for agricultural purposes and to strike an even balance with the 

 stockman by not including in the reserves any more land than 

 was necessary when viewed in the light of the absolute needs of 

 water conservation and the proper use of adjacent lands. 



The result has been the establishment of a forest reserve 

 system on the five main islands totalling 818,739 acres as follows; 



Table of Forest Reserves. 



No. of Govt, land Private land Total Per 



Reserves. acres. acres acres. cent. 



Kauai 8 81,325 66,888 148,213 18 



Oahu 15 34,045 33,888 67,933 8 



Molokai 1 13,268 31,406 44,674 6 



Maui 7 74,980 46,148 121,128 15 



Hawaii 16 355,037 81,754 436,791 53 



47 558,655 260,084 818,739 100 



68% 32% 



Lands in Reserves. 



Most of the reserves embrace watersheds and mountain tops 

 where it is essential for the conservation of water that the for- 

 est cover be protected and maintained and also potential forest 

 lands adjacent to heavy forests which have been denuded of 



