Charles Lane Poole facts for kids

Charles Edward Lane Poole (born August 16, 1885 – died November 22, 1970) was an important English Australian forester. He taught people how to manage forests using science. He helped many countries in the Commonwealth, especially Australia, learn about smart forestry.

Biography

Early Life and Education (1885–1906)

Charles Lane Poole was born in England in 1885. His father was a professor who studied ancient Egypt. Charles went to school in Dublin, Ireland. He first studied engineering, but an accident caused him to lose his left hand. After this, he decided to study forestry science instead. He graduated from a special forestry school in France in 1906.

Working in Africa (1906–1916)

After finishing school, the British government sent Charles to what is now South Africa. He started working as a forest officer there in 1907. He later moved to Sierra Leone in 1910. In Sierra Leone, he became the head of forests and helped create the first forest departments and protected forest areas. While on leave in Ireland, he married Ruth Pollexfen in 1911. She was an interior designer and a cousin of the famous poet W. B. Yeats.

Forestry in Western Australia (1916–1921)

In 1916, Charles Lane Poole became the head of forests in Western Australia. He helped create a new law called the Forests Act (1918). This law helped plan how to use timber in a way that would last for a long time. He also started the first forestry school in Western Australia in a town called Ludlow. However, he resigned in 1921 because the local government did not follow his advice.

Exploring Papua and New Guinea (1921–1925)

After leaving Western Australia, the Australian government asked Charles to explore the forests in Papua and New Guinea. These were Australian territories at the time. He spent three years exploring these forests, from the lowlands to the mountains. He measured trees and collected samples. He did not find huge amounts of timber for logging. However, his detailed notes on other forest products like resins, oils, and nuts helped find new ways to use the forests for business.

Life in Melbourne and Canberra (1925–1970)

In 1925, Charles moved to Melbourne, Australia. He became the Forestry Adviser for the whole country. In 1927, he was appointed the Inspector-General of Forests for Australia. He also helped start and became the first principal of the Australian Forestry School. This school trained many of Australia's professional foresters.

Charles and his family moved to Canberra in 1927. They lived in a special house designed for the forestry school principal. He retired from the Australian Forestry School in 1944 and from the government in 1945. After retiring, he moved to Sydney and worked as a consultant. He passed away in Sydney in 1970 at the age of 87.

Legacy

Many people see Charles Lane Poole as the "father" of modern forestry in Australia. He was the first Inspector-General of Forests. He also greatly improved how people learned about managing forests.

A large protected area of jarrah forest is named in his honor. It is called the Lane Poole Reserve and is about 50,000 hectares (about 123,500 acres) in size. It is located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Perth, Australia.

Two plant species were also named after him: Eucalyptus lane-poolei and Cycas lane-poolei.

See also

• Bendora Arboretum, a tree collection established by Poole