59 



The more important achievements of the Division may be 

 summed up as follows : 



The creation of a forest reserve system and the laying of 

 the foundation for a proper administration of the forest reserves. 



A decrease of trespass on the forests by the extension of forest 

 boundary fences, the eradication of wild cattle and goats in most 

 of the reserves, and the awakening of public opinion as to the 

 importance of these measures. 



The securing of general assent to the doctrine of tree planting 

 on waste land as evidenced by the establishment of many groves of 

 trees and forest plantations throughout the Territory. 



An increase in popular knowledge and appreciation of certain 

 valuable trees, and the keeping up of the agitation of the subject of 

 the importance of systematic investigations with new trees and 

 shrubs. 



The carrying on of a campaign of education as to the value 

 and necessity of practicing forestry in these islands, and further 

 as to the intimate relation which the right use of the natural 

 resources popularly known as "Conservation" bears to the con- 

 tinued economic well-being of this Territory. 



The enactment of a forest fire law and the organization of a 

 forest fire service. 



And some share in the strengthening of the general public 

 sentiment in favor of forestry and forest work that has found 

 expression in continued and increased support by the Legislature. 



The protection of the areas of native Hawaiian forest cover- 

 ing the important watersheds throughout the Territory has been 

 sought through the creation of forest reserves. The essential ob- 

 ject is to equalize and maintain the flow in these streams that feed 

 the various ditch systems which make the water available for irri- 

 gation, power development, cane fluming and domestic supply. 

 There are now 37 forest reserves in Hawaii. These reserves in- 

 clude both government and privately owned land. The total area is 

 798,214 acres, of which 546,222 acres (68 per cent) belongs to 

 the Territory. Twenty-eight of the reserves ;ire essentially pro- 

 tection forests, primarily of value for safeguarding the cover of 

 vegetation on watersheds. The other nine, almost all government 

 land, were set apart that the areas included within their limits 

 might eventually be brought under forest, or that the commercially 

 valuable timber on them might be administered under the Board 

 of Agriculture and Forestry. 



Technically the Hawaiian forest reserve system has now been 

 pretty nearly completed. Only a few comparatively small lands 

 remain to be set apart to round out the forest area needed for the 

 protection of the important streams. What has so far been ac- 

 complished is essential HS the first steps in the program, but to 



