Scientific Gathering of

N. Guinea Timber

Scientific Gathering of Data

WHEN military timber requirements in New Guinea reached large propor tions, the Army established a Forest Service to control and advise on all mat ters relating to timber production in New Guinea. The chief object was to avoid, as far as possible, operations prejudicial to future forest economy in those areas.

This section of the Army is designed to function until the civil administration is re-established in New Guinea. Its duties include the recording of forestry operations, so that claims for compensa tion may be assessed; locating and advis ing on forest stands suitable for military requirements; and the general study of timber resources.

In this latter function, a technique for the interpretation of aerial photos of forest types has been developed, and the preliminary air photo investigation of the Territories is well advanced. Although hampered by lack of sufficient technical personnel, and operational restrictions, a vast amount of laboratory and botanical field work has been done, and consider able technical data on th 6 trees and tim bers of New Guinea have been collated.

In addition to emphasising the region’s potentialities as a source of timber, it is estimated that Army forest survey acti vities, aided by the maps and aerial photos now available, have advanced the survey of New Guinea’s forestry resources by 30 or 40 years. This knowledge should be of value to Australia in developing the timber resources of Papua and New Guinea.