On the ground, we observe numerous stumps and tree heads which bear witness to the intense logging of the 20th century. 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 55 Direction of Sustainable Development of the South Province Territories I Strolling along the waterways 54 Strolling along the waterways Witness to logging Memory of a sawmill This site of more than 80 hectares, partially integrated into the Hidden Forest’s natural reserve, is made up of 30% gum oak, a forest wood species that has become rare following fires and logging. Historically, the Southern Woods was home to a sawmill, from the early 1940s to the late 1980s, which exploited species present on site: gum oak, kauri, husk, tamanu, bluewood and columnar pine trees. Foresters felled noble trees such as gum oak, cut and left the pieces deemed unusable for the sawmill. The fuel reserve The wood drying shed Housing Stand at the Tamanu tree cabin and look at the small climb, just opposite... On the tractor, Jacques, Mr. Lucien’s son, drags a log of wood to cut it with the saw, located near the Gum Oak cabin. The gasoline reserve (on the right in the photo) was locked away, after Mr. Lucien’s grandchildren (Jean-Louis, Lucien and his sister) played at dousing themselves with gasoline! Today, the ashes of Jean-Louis’ sister, who died in the years 2000s, rest on one of the hills to the south of the site. These hangars were located just to the right before the bridge. The planks and beams were left to dry at the current location of the Kauri cabin. The Lucien family lived in the half-moon house and the house nearby. Both facilities were located near the showers opposite the Blue Wood cabin. The large kauri tree you can see next to the showers was planted by the Lucien family around 70 years ago. N.B. : The information provided and the period photos come mainly from the memories of Jean-Louis Lucien and Philippe Guépy, the grandsons of two of the Southern Woods farm managers who lived and spent their childhood on the site. Documents from on-site communication panels in the Southern Province. Photos from 2013: Michel Mai. Spectator of the pseudo-karst system A behind the scenes revealed This site reveals a section of the underground pseudo-karst network exposed to the open air after the collapse of the vault over the underground cavity. It can dry out during the low water period. It bears witness to this exceptional hydrographic network which shows a face usually hidden from our gaze as spectators. Source/ resurgence > point of emergence of groundwater Loss: point of infiltration > point of disappearance of a watercourse Underground Cavity Healthy Peridotite Sinkhole Underground karst network Watercolour produced according to a diagram resulting from the collaboration between the Geological Service of the Department of Industry, Mines and Energy of New Caledonia & the South province. Water flow Loss: downstream of the fallen cave © Michel Mai Source: uptream of the fallen cave
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjE1NDI=