Catalogue description Ministry of Land and Natural Resources: Forestry, Tree Preservation and National Parks Division: Registered Files (KT Series)

No special provision was made for the preservation of trees until the Town and Country Planning Act of 1932, S.46, which enabled the matter to be dealt with in planning schemes. Section 29 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1962 empowered local planning authorities to protect trees and woodlands by means of tree preservation orders provided that this was done in the interests of amenity. Subject to confirmation by the Minister, these orders prohibited the wilful destruction, felling, lopping or topping of specified trees and woodlands without the consent of the local authority.

Tree Preservation Orders were first dealt with by Planning (Provinces) Division until 1962 and by Planning Division C from 1962 until 1964. The function was transferred to the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources (Forestry, Tree Preservation and National Parks Division) on the formation of that Ministry in 1964. When the latter was abolished in 1967, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government again assumed responsibility for the issuing of these orders.