Day 058 - 30 Nov 94 - Page 28


     
     1        all the experimental work in the forest nurseries, which
     2        are owned by the Forestry Commission, and all the
     3        experimental work in the two research laboratories were
     4        turned to improvement of the environment as much as to the
     5        improvement of the stock of timber.
     6
     7   Q.   So are we now, in your submission, beginning to see the
     8        benefits of those policy changes in the mid-80s?
     9        A.  I believe this to be the case, and it is evident in
    10        large forest areas such as Kielder in the north the England
    11        and in the regions further south where changes have come
    12        about, for example, the Forest of Dean has a very large
    13        forest management as well as the ancient forest of the
    14        Forest of Dean.  It is very evident that the restructuring
    15        is bringing about a totally different environment -- and
    16        many other examples could be given.
    17
    18   Q.   Would that be most evident at the end of this generation --
    19        say, for example, that planting practices, which species,
    20        how they were planted, that whole planting practices, the
    21        changes that were made or considered in the mid-80s and are
    22        being made now, will the benefits of that mostly be seen at
    23        the end of the generation of the newly planted stocks?
    24        A.  Yes, Mr. Morris, because of the length of time that it
    25        takes for a forest to mature.  In fact, one would have to
    26        say that any planting done now for environmental reasons or
    27        for restructuring the appearance of the hillside, that is
    28        going to take 15 years before you can actually see that it
    29        has come about, and then many more years before the full
    30        benefit is derived.
    31
    32   Q.   Just going to move on to biodiversity.  The planting of
    33        North American conifers in British forests, for example, in
    34        the flow country in Scotland, has that provoked some
    35        controversy as to its appropriateness and its effect?
    36        A.  Yes, it has.  It is a programme that was started at one
    37        time by the Forestry Commission on peaklands and the
    38        programme was developed together with the Scottish
    39        equivalent of the Countryside Commission together with the
    40        Water Authorities and a programme was started.  Some five
    41        years after that programme was started, the environmental
    42        concerns began to be expressed.  That programme has totally
    43        ceased now as far as the Forestry Commission is concerned.
    44
    45   Q.   When was the programme started and when did it cease?
    46        A.  It ceased in 1990.  Precisely when it began, I would
    47        have to refer, I think, to give you an answer.
    48
    49   Q.   Approximately, though?
    50        A.  I think about 1982. 
    51 
    52   Q.   So, in the 80s? 
    53        A.  In the 80s, yes.
    54
    55   Q.   It is one of the concerns that the planting in the flow
    56        country of the North American conifers has altered the
    57        ecological balance of the area and has removed habitat for
    58        a great deal of flora and fauna?
    59        A.  The planting actually took place on the drier
    60        proportion of peaklands and not on the wetland as such, and

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