Preserving. the pioneer In us by Andrea Fox "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn what I had to teach and not when I came to die, discover that I had not lived". These are the words of American poet-essayist Henry Thoreau, his reflections on the silent guardians of outdoor enjoyment and wildlife habitats - the world's forests, woods and bush. New Zealanders have been endowed with nearly one million hectares or 16% of New Zealand's forest in which to wander, picnic, study, hunt, or just ponder the truth of Thoreau's lines.
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Forest Parks and the Kaweka (18c1 and Coromandel (23c) Forest Parks in the North Island. Designed and printed by Joh Enschede en Zonen of Holland, using the photogravure process, the stamps measure 34.4mm x 38.9mm. They are obtainable by mail order from the New Zealand Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui until April 30.
t 970.
Ranging from coastal waters to mountainous terrain, these Crown-owned areas have been christened "forest parks". Since the concept was given legislative recognition in 1965, nine State forest parks have been gazetted, six in the North Island and three in the South. Four more have been approved for both islands. Though managed by New Zealand's Minister of Forests and the associated Forest Service, the New Zealand publrc has a governinq interest in the scheme. The Forest Service is assisted by various advisory committees, environmentalists and local volunteer "rangers" in administering each park under a multiple-use concept. Soil and water conservation, birdlife, plantlife and native wildlife protection and public recreation are just some of tt)ese uses. Thousands of New Zealand and overseas visitors view the beautiful forests and mountains of the parks each year. A four stamp issue depicting four New Zealand Forest
One hundred and twentyfive kilometres north of Christchurch in the South Island is the 74 000 hectare tract of Lake Sumner Forest Park (6cl. The forests and mountains of this park form a spectacular backdrop to Lake Sumner, which ;s not part of the park, and other small lakes.
NEW ZEALAND
Bc
The North-west Nelson State Forest Park (8el lies in the north-west corner of the South Island, covering 358 000 hectares and incorporating eight State Forests. Most of the area is under forest cover. The remainder features rocky peaks, some soaring to 1 500 metres, alpine herbfields and lowland swamp scrub.
Native wildlife found in the park include bats, fern birdS, gecko lizards and the gaint carniverous Paryphanta snail, which reaches a diameter of 9 cm. Glow-worms occur in several of the park's limestone caves.
red, silver and mountain beech
forests, Lake Sumner State
Red deer, chamois and wild pigs occur in small numbers throughout the park. The rare flightless Kiwi bird, a native of New Zealand, and
birds in the park to be studied by the naturalist. Lake Sumner
23c
relics of this period can still be seen in the valley today, among them kauri dams and tramline trestles. The area is of volcanic origin made up pf andesites. rhyolites and dacites. In and around streambeds, rockhounds can find a variety of jaspers, pet ri fied wood, some agate and rhodoni te. Observer ee New Zealand's forest parks as invaluable in perserving an important link between New Zealanders and their "pioneer" heritage.
alpine herbfields, grasslands and hot spring seepage areas, to Forest Park is a paradise for
"" NEW ZEALAND
The Kauaeranga Valley is the first part of the North Island CoroMandel Forest Spectacular limestone caves Park (23c1 to be developed for and complex granite formations public recreation. Lying on the Coromandel Peninsula, found on the eastern side of the 65 000 hectare Forest the park provide food for a Park, including the Kauaeran~a geologist's thoughts. Valley, was gazetted in 1971. As a :-esult of the district's Over 50 km of tracks prohigh annual rainfall, the park vide access to mountains, houses many lakes and tarns streams, and impressive views in addition to five major of steep rugged terrain river systems, habitats of clothed in native bush. the brown and rainbow trout. Introduced animals The Kauaeranga Valley are numerouS - red and fallow once supported dense kauri deer, chamois, wi Id goats, wild forest which played a major pigs, and opossums are role in the country's proscattered over the park in duction of timber and gum varying densities. from 1860 to 1930. Many
From stark mountain peaks
wildlife and sportsmen alike.
prl'serviJlion in their natural state, with the provision of roads, tracks, bridges and huts for public recreation.
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Other areas will remain in a wilderness state only accessible on foot. Two rivers in the area, the Ngaruroro and l\I1ohaka, are stocked with trout, but the fishing potential is almost untapped.
rising to 1 500 metres, through
Parks was released by the the crested grebe, the introNew Zealand Post Office on duced Canada goose and June 4,1975. The issue features paradise duck are among the the South Island's Lake Sumner (6c) and North-west Nelson
itSelf is the habitat of the angler's prize trophies, the brown trout and the salmon.
The North Island Kaweka State Forest Park (18c) is just a "baby". Gazetted early in 1974. this 61 000 hectare park still faces considerable development. Situated in the Kaweka Ranges, the park lies within easy travelling distance of the twin Hawkes Bay cities, Napier and Hastings. Plans for the Kaweka Fares; Park include settinq aside areas
Since those early days the average New Zealander has considered "the bush" a public common for fishing, hunting and walking. As long as these forested areas are preserved, his heritaqe will never be totally destroyed amid high¡ rise living.