LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF SIMULATED RED-DEER B ROWSING ON NORWAY SPRUCE

The natural forests of New Zealand are characterized by temperate, oce anic climate, and mostly endemic tree species. Since ca. 1000 years, t he Maoris began to convert forests to grassland. During the last hundr ed years, many forested areas with a high proportion of conifers were destroyed by clearfelling operations. The effect of introduced exotic species was destructive. Today, most of the remaining natural forests are protected from logging. Forestry concentrates on plantations of ra diata pine. It has increasing economic importance for New Zealand.