re 
rS. 
ners 
owing 
ly 
nd 
avy 
the 
| has 
lore 
XY, 
nd 
orts 
g is 
der 
lo 
p= 
. by 
li- 
| the 
There are a number of reserves, some dedicated to forestry, totalling 
550 ha which have been managed more or less effectively to meet long term 
goals however the remaining 75$ of the island under freehold and leasehold 
tenure appears subject to little coordinated land-use planning. 
The Pine 
The Norfolk Island pine, Araucaria heterophylla (Salisb.) Franco., 
is the best known of the species endemic to Norfolk Island (Turner, Smithers 
and Hoogland 1968). It is a member of the Araucariaceae, a coniferous 
family which includes only one other genus, Agathis. The genus Araucaria 
includes, in addition to the Norfolk species, two from South America (one 
of which is the subject of a paper at this symposium), two from New Guinea, 
two from mainland Australia (Queensland) and seven from New Caledonia. 
Lane-Poole (1926) gives an excellent description of the Norfolk 
species which he regarded as a timber tree of the first order: 
'It has not the formal appearance of the park-grown Norfolk Island pine 
in Australia, but from quite near appears rather as a tree of the 
genus Pinus. For the first 30 years it reminds one of a Noah's ark 
or sampler tree... then its habit alters, the outline becomes irregular. 
The pine assumes a more rugged profile and gains character. The 
growth in diameter appears to be fairly constant to 80 years (when 
the tree may be harvested) and the maximum height is 180 feet. Some 
of the huge pines of early days were made into historic monuments but 
all these have disappeared; only a dozen of the trees of pre-convict 
days are left and these are broken-topped giants with hollow hearts.’ 
The species has been planted widely overseas having been introduced 
to England in 1793 shortly after the first settlement was established on 
the Island.  Appreciable areas of plantations have been established in 
South Africa and in the Hawaiian Islands, basically for timber production, 
but it is for its horticultural qualities that the Norfolk Island pine is 
best known. It is very popular in the Mediterranean region and other 
countries with similar climate and the species is also used widely as 
potted specimens in greenhouses and buildings. 
On Norfolk Island the pine provides a large number and variety of 
values. It is the dominant feature of the attractive landscape, it 
supplies some timber for local consumption, it provides shelter for stock 
and crops as well as the human population and its roots bind the soil 
particularly on the steep cliff edges and the dissected terrain of the 
higher areas of the island. Seeds from the Island's trees are collected 
and distributed all over the world for horticultural and timber production 
purposes. Like any other endemic island species it is very interesting 
scientifically as the basis for taxonomic, genetic and evolutionary 
research and it is most important that an adequate gene resource be 
Preserved in its natural environment. Since the economy of the Island is 
almost totally dependent on tourism and one of the major attractions for 
tourists is the breathtaking scenery, the preservation of the wooded, 
lush character of the island is of paramount importance. The existence 
of the pine in all its forms contributes to a very substantial degree to 
the natural beauty of the landscape.